A study of the normal distribution of ascorbic acid between the red cells and plasma of human blood.

A number of investigations (2, 3, 6, 7, 10) within the past 10 years has demonstrated the significance of determining ascorbic acid in the whole blood or white blood cells in assessing the vitamin C nutriture of individuals. These studies have shown (a) that the blood cells may contain ascorbic acid when there is no vitamin in the serum (2, 3), (b) that scurvy does not appear until the cellular ascorbic acid is zero (2, 3), and (c) that the cellular (2, 3) or whole blood (6, 7, 10) values are closely correlated with the total bodily ascorbic acid. Because of the continued widespread use of ascorbic acid determinations on serum or plasma in nutritional surveys, it seemed that a study undertaken to examine the interrelation of ascorbic acid levels in the serum (plasma), red cells, and whole blood would contribute to an understanding of the data already amassed. Such an investigation was further indicated by the lack of agreement among those who have already explored this interrelation as to whether the red blood cell or the serum cont,ained the larger amount of ascorbic acid. The present report deals with a study of the interrelations of the ascorbic acid concentrations in the plasma, red cells, and whole blood, as determined in the cases of twenty-six healthy adults.