Synergistic action of vitamin E and vitamin C in vivo using a new mutant of Wistar-strain rats, ODS, unable to synthesize vitamin C.
It is well known that vitamins E and C exhibit synergistic action in in vitro systems, but with regard to in vivo systems, much of the available data are confusing. To elucidate this problem we used a new mutant of Wistar-strain rats that cannot synthesize vitamin C, namely, ODS rats. Two experiments were planned: (1) during development of vitamin E deficiency, whether vitamin C could spare the consumption of vitamin E; and (2) under conditions of a regular level of vitamin E intake, whether different dose levels of vitamin C can affect vitamin E concentration in tissues. The results obtained show that with vitamin C intake, higher levels of vitamin E were deposited in tissues in both experiments. With the development of vitamin E deficiency, rats in the group with a higher dose of vitamin C deposited higher concentrations of alpha-tocopherol. With simultaneous administration of vitamin E and vitamin C to the same mutant rats, the rats in the group with a higher dose of vitamin C deposited higher levels of vitamin E in all tissues tested. Thus, we concluded that vitamin C can spare the consumption of vitamin E in vivo as well as in vitro.
Igarashi
O
O
Institute of Environmental Science for Human Life, Ochanomizu University, Tokyo, Japan.
Yonekawa
Y
Y
Fujiyama-Fujihara
Y
Y
D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001835:Body Weight; D004032:Diet; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011922:Rats, Mutant Strains; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014811:Vitamin E Deficiency / Q000378:metabolism
D014810:Vitamin E; D001205:Ascorbic Acid