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Related Experiment Videos

Formation of carbon dioxide from ascorbate in man.

A Kallner, D Hornig, R Pellikka

    The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
    |March 1, 1985
    PubMed
    Summary

    Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) breakdown in the gut produces carbon dioxide. Higher doses of vitamin C led to more carbon dioxide recovery from breath, suggesting intestinal degradation.

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    Area of Science:

    • Biochemistry
    • Human Physiology
    • Nutritional Science

    Background:

    • Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is an essential nutrient with various physiological roles.
    • Understanding the metabolic fate of ascorbic acid is crucial for determining optimal intake and bioavailability.
    • Previous research has not fully elucidated the degradation pathways of high-dose ascorbic acid in the human intestine.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the metabolic fate of 1-14C-labelled ascorbic acid in humans.
    • To determine if ascorbic acid degradation occurs presystemically in the intestine.
    • To quantify the recovery of labelled ascorbic acid as carbon dioxide in breath.

    Main Methods:

    • Volunteers received daily doses of ascorbic acid for 3 weeks.
    • A tracer dose of 1-14C-labelled ascorbic acid was administered with varying amounts of unlabeled ascorbic acid (90-1000 mg).
    • Carbon dioxide in breath was collected and quantified to measure the recovery of the 14C label.

    Main Results:

    • Carbon dioxide was recovered from breath in all participants receiving 180 mg or more of unlabeled ascorbic acid.
    • The percentage of the 14C dose recovered as carbon dioxide ranged from 1% to over 30%.
    • A positive correlation was observed between the carrier dose of ascorbic acid and the amount of 14C recovered as carbon dioxide.

    Conclusions:

    • The formation of carbon dioxide from ascorbic acid suggests a presystemic degradation pathway in the intestine.
    • Microbiological or chemical degradation of ascorbic acid in the gastrointestinal tract is a likely mechanism.
    • These findings indicate that high doses of ascorbic acid may undergo significant intestinal breakdown, impacting its bioavailability.

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