Effect of oral administration of vitamin C on human aqueous humor ascorbate concentration.
OBJECTIVE
To study oral administration of vitamin C on human aqueous humour ascorbate concentration.


METHODS
High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with electrochemical detector (ECD) was used. The effect of oral administration of various doses of ascorbic acid, 0 (control), 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 3.0, and 5.0 g, on its concentration in aqueous humour, obtained from volunteer cataract patients was studied.


RESULTS
The concentration of ascorbic acid in aqueous humour of control group (without administration of vitamin-C tablet or drug containing ascorbic acid was (254 +/- 119) mg.L-1. This study revealed that the administration of 2.0 g of ascorbic acid saturate the aqueous humour and further increase in the dose (3.0 g and 5.0 g) did not increase its concentration in aqueous humour, although its concentration was increased in plasma.


CONCLUSIONS
Oral administration of 2.0 g of Vc is sufficient to saturate the aqueous humour where it may be helpful in controlling the intra-ocular pressure.
Department of Pharmacy, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1, 1XW, UK.
Z
Z
Iqbal
J M
JM
Midgley
D G
DG
Watson
S D
SD
Karditsas
G N
GN
Dutton
W S
WS
Wilson
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D002386:Cataract / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D001205:Ascorbic Acid