Reduction of dehydroerythorbic acid in vitamin C-deficient guinea pigs

A reduction of dehydroerythorbic acid (DERA) to erythorbic acid (ERA) in vi tamin C-deficient guinea pigs was evaluated and compared with that of dehyd roascorbic acid (DASA). Thirty-six guinea pigs were fed with vitamin C-defi cient diets for 18 days. On day 19, the guinea pigs were divided into four groups for the administration of 100 mg of DERA, ERA, ascorbic acid (ASA). or DASA every day. After 12 days of oral administration, the concentration of DERA, ERA, ASA, and DASA in the liver, adrenal, spleen, kidney, and plas ma of guinea pigs was determined by HPLC. A recovery from scurvy was measur ed in terms of weight gain and serum alkaline phosphatase activity. All fou r groups showed similar recovery, indicating that the oral administration o f relatively high concentrations of DERA reversed the effects of scurvy in vitamin C-deficient guinea pigs. In spite of DERA or DASA administration, E RA or ASA was mainly detected in the tissues. The reduction ratios of DEAR and DASA were similar (approximately 80%) in all tissues except spleen. The se results suggest that both DASA and DERA are taken up and reduced to ASA or ERA in vivo.