DECREASE OF SERUM ASCORBIC-ACID CONCENTRATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH DIABETIC MACROANGIOPATHY

The relationship between serum ascorbic acid (AA) and diabetic macroan giopathy was studied. Fifty-six patients with noninsulin-dependent dia betes mellitus were examined, together with 20 healthy controls matche d for age against the diabetes patients. Aortic pulse wave velocity (P WV) was taken as an index of the severity of atherosclerosis. The leve l of serum AA in diabetic patients was significantly lower than that o f the controls. Among the diabetic groups, those with elevated PWV lev els by age demonstrated a significant drop in AA. No significant diffe rences were seen in the level of serum dehydroascrobic acid (DHAA) bet ween patients and controls, nor were there any significant differences among patient groups. The concentration of serum AA was inversely rel ated to the risk factors of atherosclerosis, such as body mass index, Apo B/ Apo A-I ratio, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TEARS), and microalbumin in urine. It was inferred from these findings that t he depletion of serum AA was apparent in diabetics with advanced ather osclerosis.