Biosynthesis of Ascorbic Acid in Human Beings

Introduction.?It is generally recognized that human beings, monkeys and guinea-pigs do not synthesize vitamin C in their body. The difference in the time of onset of the symptoms ?f vitamin C deficiency were attributed to differences in age, sex and locality. The great extent to which pregnant women could tolerate vitamin C deficiency could not be explained. It has, however, been suggested that possibly the fcetus synthesizes vitamin C and that this is the cause of higher tolerance levels in the case of Pregnant women. The fact that nursing mothers secrete more vitamin G in their milk than they consume has been assumed to be due to biosynthesis of vitamin C by them. What is the actual state of affairs in normal non-pregnant women and in men does not appear to have been studied. The possibility of biosynthesis of vitamin C in them has been examined in the present series of investigations. Experimental technique and material for study.?Six normal healthy girl students and 4 healthy males between the ages of 16 and 25 were selected. The level of vitamin C in blood was estimated in every case before the experiment was started. The cases included men and non-pregnant women, 6 of whom were vegetarians and 4 taking a mixed diet. The method used Was the volumetric method of Farmer and Abt Jn which the plasma proteins are precipitated with metaphosphoric acid and the ascorbic acid jn solution titrated with standardized 2 : 6 dichlorophenol indophenol-sodium solution. The above volunteers were then kept on a regulated vitamin C free diet. Vitamin C content of the blood was studied at regular intervals. The volunteers were also clinically examined regularly and any symptoms of vitamin C deficiency noted carefully.