Ascorbate recycling by erythrocytes during aging in humans
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Updated: Jun 27, 2026

A Rapid and Specific Microplate Assay for the Determination of Intra- and Extracellular Ascorbate in Cultured Cells
Published on: April 11, 2014
Syed Ibrahim Rizvi1, Kanti Bhooshan Pandey, Rashmi Jha
1Department of Biochemistry, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, India. sirizvi@gmail.com
Abstract:
Erythrocytes play a crucial role in recycling ascorbate in blood plasma. The erythrocyte ascorbate free radical (AFR) reductase is involved in the reduction of AFR to ascorbic acid (ASC) in the plasma. In the present study, we report an age-dependent increase in the activity of erythrocyte AFR reductase in humans that shows a significant positive correlation with the activity of plasma membrane redox system (PMRS). We explain the age-dependent increase in erythrocyte ASC recycling on the basis of a compensatory/protective mechanism that operates to maintain the ASC level in plasma and thereby minimize oxidative stress during aging.
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