The excretion of large vitamin C loads in young and elderly subjects: an ascorbic acid tolerance test.
An ascorbic acid tolerance test is described for assessing vitamin C status. The test is simple to administer and suitable for elderly patients. It involves giving an oral load of 1 g ascorbic acid in water and then measuring urinary excretion of vitamin C over the next 6 h. The excretion pattern at dosing has been studied in ten young subjects. The result of the ascorbic acid tolerance test in these young subjects was significantly different after supplementation with 1 g ascorbic acid daily for 1 month. Two series of elderly patients were also studied with the ascorbic acid tolerance test. They had low initial plasma ascorbic acid levels and much less vitamin C was excreted in the urine after dosing. Seven of these elderly patients were then supplemented with 1 g ascorbic acid for 1 month. After supplementation the initial plasma levels and their response to the ascorbic acid tolerance test became similar to that seen in younger subjects.
Neale
R J
RJ
Department of Applied Biochemistry and Food Science, University of Nottingham, Loughborough.
Lim
H
H
Turner
J
J
Freeman
C
C
Kemm
J R
JR
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D001205:Ascorbic Acid