The Anti-Scorbutic Potency of Reversibly Oxidized Ascorbic Acid and the Observation of an Enzyme in Blood Which Reduces the Reversibly Oxidized Vitamin

Abstract

Data have been obtained which show that reversibly oxidized ascorbic acid has approximately one-fourth the antiscorbutic potency of ascorbic acid in its reduced form when administered to guinea pigs. Reversibly oxidized ascorbic acid is more potent antiscorbutically when given orally than when administered subcutaneously. Ascorbic acid is not stored in the tissues of guinea pigs, either in the oxidized or reduced form, when the reversibly oxidized form is administered in amounts as high as 1 mg. per 100 gm. of body weight per day. The anti-scorbutic effect of reversibly oxidized ascorbic acid is due to an enzyme in blood which has the power to reduce the reversibly oxidized form of this vitamin.