Age Related Studies on Ascorbic Acid Metabolism

Abstract

In vitro studies indicate that the uptake of ascorbic acid by skin, bone and teeth of rat declines with age. This may be correlated with the synthesis of collagen, the major constituent protein of the connective tissue. There is a decrease with age, in the synthesis of ascorbic acid due to alteration in enzyme systems. The concentration of total free ascorbic acid in various tissues, declines with age but at different rate. Fall of bound ascorbic acid contentduring aging, is probably due to crosslinking of proteins. The possible implications of theabove studies have been discussed.