WHOLE-BLOOD TOTAL, REDUCED AND OXIDIZED ASCORBIC-ACID LEVELS IN SAUDIPATIENTS WITH CHRONIC-RENAL-FAILURE - INFLUENCE OF GENDER AND CHRONIC-HEMODIALYSIS

We have investigated the effects of chronic haemodialysis and gender o n whole-blood concentrations of vitamin C total (TA) and reduced (AA) and oxidized ascorbic acid (dehydroascorbic acid, DA) in Saudi patient s with chronic renal failure. Patients on regular chronic haemodialysi s had significantly lower whole-blood levels of vitamin C than healthy controls. The mean pre-dialysis whole-blood levels as well as the rat io of DA to AA were not significantly different from those of healthy controls (P < 0.1). However, after haemodialysis, whole-blood vitamin C levels had declined significantly whereas the ratio of DA to AA had increased significantly as compared to pre-dialysis and healthy contro ls (P < 0.001). There were gender-related changes in whole-blood level s of vitamin C and DA/AA ratio in healthy controls and chronic renal f ailure patients undergoing regular chronic haemodialysis. (C) 1998 Lip pincott-Raven Publishers.