Influence of vitamin C supplementation on the oxidative status of rat liver

Abstract

Rats have the ability to synthesize vitamin C in the liver. In the present work, we tested whether its additional intake improves antioxidative protection of the tissue. Thus, we studied the liver's oxidative status in rats given two supplements of ascorbic acid over a four-week period of time. Our results confirmed that the additional intake of ascorbate improves the liver's antioxidative defense in a dose-dependent manner. The explanation for the disproportion between the ratio of employed doses of vitamin C and their effects on the studied parameters probably lies in the mechanism of tissue accumulation of ascorbate and balance of its alimentary and endogenous availability.