Ascorbic acid and melanogenesis.

The ascorbic acid contents of skin, plasma and urine were estimated in 12 vitiligo cases, one albino and 10 normal subjects. All the estimations were repeated after saturation with ascorbic acid. There was no difference between the two groups with regard to the ascorbic acid contents of their plasma or urine. The ascorbic acid level of vitiliginous skin was decreased; however, this difference just falls short of significance at the level P = 0-05. Further investigations with a larger group of patients are indicated.