Ascorbic acid metabolism in rats fed high fat cholesterol diet

The synthesis and catabolism of ascorbic acid has been studied in rats fed an atherogenic diet as also has the relation between the concentration of ascorbic acid and concentration of lipids in the tissues. The concentration of ascorbic acid was found to decrease in the serum, liver, spleen and adrenals, but not in the kidney, in the animals fed an atherogenic diet when compared with those fed normal diet. An inverse relationship was found between the concentration of ascorbic acid in the tissue and the concentration of lipids. The synthesis of ascorbic acid from D-glucuronalactone did not significantly differ in the liver and kidney, but decreased in the spleen in the animals fed the atherogenic diet. On the other hand, the catabolism of ascorbic acid significantly increased in the liver and spleen.