Abstract
Since reactions between different vitamins are always of interest, it appears worthwhile to report the following observations. In the course of performing a number of spot tests, it was observed that a yellow color was produced when a mixture of ascorbic acid and nicotinamide was moistened with water and stirred into a thick paste. The formation of the canary yellow color was almost immediate. Nicotinic acid gave a similar color reaction with ascorbic acid although the reaction proceeded more slowly. None of the other vitamins that were tested gave this reaction; these included pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine, calcium pantothenate, and para-amino benzoic acid.
Failure to note this reaction previously in any of the numerous mixtures of vitamins used as dietary supplements probably was due to the common practice of including riboflavin in such preparations. The deep yellow color of the riboflavin would mask that of the reaction.
Whether the reaction alters the biologic activity of the vitamins or represents one of the functions of ascorbic acid in the Body in not know.
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