title: Human adrenal glands secrete vitamin C in response to adrenocorticotrophic hormone.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  When vitamin C intake is from foods, fasting plasma concentrations do not exceed 80 micromol/L. We postulated that such tight control permits a paracrine function of vitamin C.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine whether paracrine secretion of vitamin C from the adrenal glands occurs.
  
  
  METHODS
  During diagnostic evaluation of 26 patients with hyperaldosteronism, we administered adrenocorticotrophic hormone intravenously and measured vitamin C and cortisol in adrenal and peripheral veins.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adrenal vein vitamin C concentrations increased in all cases and reached a peak of 176 +/- 71 micromol/L at 1-4 min, whereas the corresponding peripheral vein vitamin C concentrations were 35 +/- 15 micromol/L (P<0.0001). Mean adrenal vein vitamin C increased from 39 +/- 15 micromol/L at 0 min, rose to 162 +/- 101 micromol/L at 2 min, and returned to 55 +/- 16 micromol/L at 15 min. Adrenal vein vitamin C release preceded the release of adrenal vein cortisol, which increased from 1923 +/- 2806 nmol/L at 0 min to 27 191 +/- 16 161 nmol/L at 15 min (P<0.0001). Peripheral plasma cortisol increased from 250 +/- 119 nmol/L at 0 min to 506 +/- 189 nmol/L at 15 min (P<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adrenocorticotrophic hormone stimulation increases adrenal vein but not peripheral vein vitamin C concentrations. These data are the first in humans showing that hormone-regulated vitamin secretion occurs and that adrenal vitamin C paracrine secretion is part of the stress response. Tight control of peripheral vitamin C concentration is permissive of higher local concentrations that may have paracrine functions.
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Clinical Nutrition Section, Digestive Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892-1372, USA.
authors.forename: Sebastian J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Padayatty
authors.forename: John L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Doppman
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Yaohui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: Dimitris A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Papanicolaou
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levine
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000378:metabolism*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D006929:Hyperaldosteronism / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D006854:Hydrocortisone