title: The influence of orally-administered vitamin C or zinc on the absorption of and the biological response to lead.
abstract: A single-blind study was performed on male workers from a primary lead smelter to determine whether a daily oral supplement of vitamin C (1 g vitamin C orally once a day, five times a week for 20 weeks) or zinc (60 mg zinc as zinc gluconate once a day, five times a week for eight weeks) influences the absorption of and the biological (hematological and renal) response to lead. The vitamin C and the zinc study groups comprised 39 and 11 workers, respectively. Their blood levels of lead at the start of the experiment ranged from 28.9 to 76.4 micrograms/100 ml. A matched control group receiving a placebo was followed simultaneously. The results demonstrate that, in workers whose exposure to inorganic lead is moderate and who do not suffer from nutritional deficiencies, oral supplementation of vitamin C or zinc does not influence the metabolism and biological action of lead.
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005942:Gluconates / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005942:Gluconates; D007854:Lead; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; C030691:gluconic acid