Anorectic drugs and vitamin C: role in appetite and brain ascorbic acid in guineapigs.

The role of daily administration of anorectic drugs (fenfluramine, mazindol and diethylpropion) with or without Vitamin C supplement, in the appetite and brain ascorbic acid, had been investigated in guineapigs receiving a daily Vitamin C-deficient diet for 24 days. Food intake was reduced by diethylpropion in the scorbutic male and female guineapigs but to a smaller extent by fenfluramine or mazindol. Supplementary Vitamin C daily significantly inhibited the anorectic actions of these drugs. In relation to the brain ascorbic acid level in the scorbutic gunieapigs, the initial stable level of brain ascorbic acid was significantly reduced by fenfluramine in both sexes by day 24, (P less than 0.05). Both mazindol and diethylpropion did not cause such reductions in the initial brain ascorbic acid. The three anorectic drugs prevented the rise in brain ascorbic acid normally associated with supplementary Vitamin C. It appears that brain ascorbic acid level can make metabolic readjustment during anorexia caused by diethylpropion and mazindol but not that caused by fenfluramine in guineapigs.