Aging, Atherosclerosis and Ascorbic Acid Metabolism*

Effect of Ascorbic Acid 2-Sulfate on the Faecal Excretion of Exogenous Cholesterol in the Rat

“…A significant reduction in the faecal excretion of radioactive material was seen in the first 72 h after the administration of [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] C]cholesterol to rats which had been treated for a period of 5 days with daily injection of 10 mg or 20 mg ascorbic acid 2-sulfate (27.2% or 28.3% of the labelled dose); the controls received an injection of buffer only (33.9%) (p < 0.02 and p < 0.01, respectively), or a solution containing 10 mg K 2 SO 4 (32.6%). However, sodium ascorbate (33 mg) had a similar effect to ascorbic acid 2-sulfate, with regard to the excretion of radioactivity in the faeces (25.8% of the administered dose).…”

“…No stimulatory effect on the excretion of either cholesterol or cholesterol sulfate could be observed by ascorbic acid 2-sulfate as compared with the controls (buffer, sodium ascorbate or K 2 SO 4 ). The total radioactivity remaining in the liver, spleen, kidneys and adrenals 72 h after the single injection of [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] C]cholesterol is given in Table 3. The accumulation of label was higher in the organs of rats injected with ascorbic acid 2-sulfate.…”

“…Additional controls (2 animals) received a solution of sodium ascorbate (33 mg/500 buffer) or a solution of K 2 SO 4 (Merck, 10 mg/500 buffer). A single dose of 22.8 [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] C]cholesterol (159 g) was administered via the same route in an emulsified form (300 ) 5 h after the last injection of ascorbic acid sulfate, sodium ascorbate or K 2 SO 4 . This emulsion was prepared as follows: the benzene was evaporated from the cholesterol solution and the residue was emulsified in isotonic NaQ after addition of a small volume of emulgator Atlas O1290 and propylene glycol.…”

“…Chemicals: [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] CJcholesterol (55.6 mCi/mmple), dissolved in benzene, was purchased from The Radiochemical Centre, Amersham. Ascorbic acid 2-sulfate (dipotassium salt), sodium ascorbate and cholesterol sulfate (ammonium salt) were supplied by Hoffmann-La Roche, Atlas G-1290 by Atlas" Chemie (Essen, Germany).…”

“…Ascorbic acid 2-sulfate was identified äs a significant metabolite of ascorbic acid in animals and man (8)(9)(10) and it has been suggested that it acts as a long-term storage form in the ascorbic acid pool of the body (11). This report deals with the effect of ascorbic acid 2-sulfate, given over a period of 5 days by daily intravenous injection, on the faecal excretion of radioactivity after a single intravenous administration of [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] C]cholesterol in rats. The aim of this study was to examine whether the administration of ascorbic acid 2-sulfate enhances the faecal or urinary excretion of radioactive material, especially of cholesterol sulfate, and whether the accumulation of exogenous cholesterol by various tissues is decreased.…”