Bile acid metabolism in ascorbic acid-deficient guinea pigs.

Sterol balance techniques have been used to determine the effect of short-term ascorbic acid (AA) deprivation on bile acid excretion in the guinea pig. The effects of a brief (2-week) AA deficiency on bile acid pool sizes and the activity of the rate controlling enzyme in bile acid biosynthesis have been determined. It was found that, while food intake and body weight were not affected by the short-term AA deficiency, liver AA levels had fallen to 25% of control levels. At the same time, the rate of excretion of bile acids and the size of the bile acid pool were both reduced by about 50% in guinea pigs deficient in AA. These results were supported by a decrease in the activity of cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase in the deficient animals. It is concluded that an AA deficiency will significantly impair bile acid metabolism independent of any side effects of clinical scurvy.