Kinetics of ascorbate depletion in guinea pigs after long-term high vitamin C intake.

Half-lives of ascorbate depletion in 9 organs proved the same in guinea pigs receiving minimum maintenance dose of ascorbic acid (0.5 mg/animal/day) during 15 weeks of the pre-experimental period, as in those on very high doses (0.5% ascorbic acid in diet = 300 mg/kg body weight/day). The survival on the ascorbate-free diet proved longer in guinea pigs receiving high vitamin C doses (0.5% in diet) for 7 months previously, than in those with a tenfold lower vitamin C supply (0.05% in diet). Permanently high vitamin C intake does not induce induce systemic conditioning in adult guinea pigs.