The effect of antibacterial agents on plasma vitamin C levels

Previous report on the estimation of plasma ascorbic acid levels in patients with chronic osteomyelitis indicated that the plasma ascorbic acid level is reduced in patients on antibiotics. The plasma study of the effects of anti-bacterial agents on plasma ascorbic acid in vitro, was carried out to substantiate the hypothesis than these agents lower plasma ascorbic acid levels. Increasing amounts of each of seven anti-bacterial agents: ampicillin, chloramphenicol, cefotaxime, gentamycin, benzyl and procaine penicillin combination (seclopen), co-trimoxazole, and streptomycin significantly (P < 0.01, r = -0.9587) reduced plasma vitamin C levels in vitro. There was moderate but insignificant reduction in plasma vitamin C levels with clindamycin (r = -0.799). The reduction of the plasma vitamin C levels observed in the presence of the eighth anti-bacterial agent, clindamycin, lacked significance (r = -0.799). The cause of this reduction of plasma vitamin C levels by anti-bacterial agents in vitro is not yet understood. A supplement of vitamin C may be required in patients on anti-bacterial agents.