Dietary ascorbic acid and muscle carnitine (beta-OH-gamma-(trimethylamino) butyric acid) in guinea-pigs.
Tissue ascorbic acid (AA) contents of approximately 12 and 100% saturation respectively were produced in two groups of guinea-pigs. The 'low-AA' group had a significantly lower muscle carnitine concentrations than the 'high-AA' group. There was no concomitant emergence of the symptoms customarily regarded as characteristic of hypovitaminosis C. It is concluded that muscle carnitine (beta-OH-gamma-(trimethyl-amino)butyric acid) is a highly-sensitive indicator of tissue AA contents; this could account for the lassitude and fatique reported to precede the emergence of frank scurvy in man.
D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D001206:Ascorbic Acid Deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D002331:Carnitine / Q000032:analysis*; D004032:Diet; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000032:analysis*
D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D002331:Carnitine