title: EFFECTS OF VITAMIN C SUPPLEMENTATION ON THE CHRONIC PHASE OF CHAGAS DISEASE.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In order to examine the effectiveness of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in combating the oxidative insult caused by Trypanosoma cruzi during the development of the chronic phase of Chagas disease, Swiss mice were infected intraperitoneally with 5.0 × 104 trypomastigotes of T. cruzi QM1strain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mice were given supplements of two different doses of vitamin C for 180 days. Levels of lipid oxidation (as indicated by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances-TBARS), total peroxide, vitamin C, and reduced glutathione were measured in the plasma, TBARS, total peroxide and vitamin C were measured in the myocardium and histopathologic analysis was undertaken in heart, colon and skeletal muscle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Animals that received a dose equivalent to 500 mg of vitamin C daily showed increased production of ROS in plasma and myocardium and a greater degree of inflammation and necrosis in skeletal muscles than those that received a lower dose or no vitamin C whatsoever.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although some research has shown the antioxidant effect of vitamin C, the results showed that animals subject to a 500 mg dose of vitamin C showed greater tissue damage in the chronic phase of Chagas disease, probably due to the paradoxical actions of the substance, which in this pathology, will have acted as a pro-oxidant or pro-inflammatory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Marília Medical School, Marília, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo Guimarães
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Marim
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Marília Medical School, Marília, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alex Silva
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: de Gusmão
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Marília Medical School, Marília, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roberto Esteves Pires
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Castanho
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Clinic, Division of Nutrition and Metabolism, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Deminice
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Marília Medical School, Marília, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Altino Luiz Silva
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Therezo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Clinic, Division of Nutrition and Metabolism, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alceu Afonso
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Jordão Júnior
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Marília Medical School, Marília, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcos Renato
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: de Assis
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemisty, Marília Medical School, Marília, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elane de Fátima
authors.initials: Ede F
authors.lastname: Taipeiro
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Marília Medical School, Marília, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciamare Perinetti Alves
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Martins
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002908:Chronic Disease; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D009195:Peroxidase; D005978:Glutathione; D001205:Ascorbic Acid