Sex variation in ascorbic acid catabolism.

Male and female albino rats of same age and body weight were pair fed with laboratory stock diet and ascorbic acid, dehydroascorbic acid and diketogulonic acid were determined in the liver and urine, while in blood only ascorbic acid was estimated. Male rats had concentration higher of ascorbic acid in liver and urine as compared with females, while there were no significant variations in the contents of dehydroascorbic acid and diketogulonic acid. Hepatic and renal 2, 3-diketoaldonate decarboxylase, and hepatic dehydroascorbatase were also found to be significantly higher in male rats. Similar sex variations were also observed in ascorbic acid catabolism in guinea pigs without any differences in urinary ascorbic acid contents.