Solubility properties of reduced and oxidized ascorbate as determinants of membrane permeation

The oil/water distribution coefficients of ascorbic acid and dehydro-L-ascorbic acid have been determined and compared with values for mannitol and lauric acid. In general, the relative degrees of hydrophobicity of the compounds evaluated are lauric acid much greater than mannitol approximately equal to dehydro-L-ascorbic acid greater than ascorbic acid. These findings and recent reports from transport studies do not support the concept that dehydro-L-ascorbic acid is very hydrophobic and crosses cell membranes rapidly by simple diffusion.