Tracer Studies of Vitamin C Utilization in Men

Abstract

Summary

1. Results of studies with healthy men revealed that close to one-fourth of D-glucuronolactone-6-C¹⁴ was converted to L-ascorbic acid whereas, on the other hand, no activity could be detected in the ascorbate derivative isolated from the urine of subjects receiving D-glucuronic-6-C¹⁴ acid. 2. One-half of the urinary oxalate arises from the breakdown of ascorbic acid and is excreted at a constant rate. 3. The size of the ascorbic acid pool and its rate of utilization were directly related to the size of the fat-free body weight.