[The effects of high-dose ascorbic acid administration on the factors of lithogenesis in the rat]

Administration of ascorbic acid, at 150 mg/100 ml of water intake, for one month, induced hyperoxaluria in the rats (P less than 0.001) and decreased citraturia (P less than 0.001) magnesuria (P less than 0.001) and pyrophosphaturia (P less than 0.01). The same disorders were observed when the dose administered was 300 mg/100 ml, excepted that oxaluria was considerably enhanced in this group. Despite these variations, renal deposits were not observed, even in the animals receiving 300 mg of ascorbate/100 ml of water intake. This protection was due to decreased calcium excretion (P less than 0.01 in two groups) and probably to acidification of the urine.