Bone Salt Mobilization Effected by Ascorbic Acid ∗

Abstract

Summary

The influence of exogenous ascorbic acid on the movement of ⁴⁵Ca from the bone to the blood was measured in the young chick. The isotope was given 6 days prior to the vitamin and was presumably located mainly in mature crystals when the ascorbic acid was given. Blood levels of ⁴⁵Ca were significantly elevated from 4 to 8 hours following administration of ascorbic acid. Twenty-four hours after this injection blood ⁴⁵Ca was approximately 25% less than controls. These results suggest that ascorbic acid, as used in these studies, had a bone salt mobilizing influence. Whether this effect was direct or indirect remains to be elucidated. If the mobilizing effect were direct, it would indicate that ascorbic acid has a more extensive role in skeletal physiology than previously thought.