In vivo effects of vitamin C on the cytotoxicity of post-ethanol serum.
The consumption of alcohol is followed by the development in the serum of a non-dialysable cytotoxic activity against A9 cells. This cytotoxicity has been previously shown to reside mainly in unstable acetaldehyde-albumin complexes from which cytotoxic acetaldehyde molecules can be transferred to target cells. The cytotoxicity developing in serum albumin 8 hr after seven healthy volunteers drank 84 g ethanol over 45 min was abolished when the same volunteers were pre-treated with 1 g vitamin C daily for 3 days prior to alcohol consumption. The cytotoxicity was measured against A9 cells using two different indicators: (i) detachment of adherent cells and (ii) a decrease in the ability of cells to reduce tetrazolium. These data suggest that the administration of vitamin C may be useful in limiting those aspects of alcohol toxicity mediated by circulating acetaldehyde.
Wickramasinghe
S N
SN
Department of Haematology St Mary's Hospital Medical School, Imperial College of Science Technology & Medicine, London, U.K.
Hasan
R
R
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001769:Blood / Q000187:drug effects; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002460:Cell Line / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology
D012709:Serum Albumin; D001205:Ascorbic Acid