title: The effect of ascorbic acid on sodium nitrite-induced methemoglobin formation in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase-deficient erythrocytes.
abstract: Ascorbic acid significantly reduced the occurrence of sodium nitrite-induced methemoglobin (METHB) formation in a dose-dependent manner in erythrocytes from glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD)-deficient humans in vitro. The ascorbic acid treatment, however, also decreased levels of reduced GSH in a dose-dependent manner, a response indicative of oxidant stress to the erythrocyte membrane. The latter findings are inconsistent with the hypothesis that ascorbic acid supplementation in G-6-PD-deficient humans may help compensate for inherently low levels of erythrocyte GSH. Finally, the ascorbic acid-induced reduction of METHB values, while of statistical significance, does not appear to be of clinical significance.
mesh_terms: D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D005955:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008706:Methemoglobin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D012977:Sodium Nitrite / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D009573:Nitrites; D008706:Methemoglobin; D005978:Glutathione; D012977:Sodium Nitrite; D001205:Ascorbic Acid