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Chemical evidence for interactions between vitamins E and C

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Summary

Experimental proof is provided for interactions between radicals of vitamin E/vitamin C as generated by air-oxidized lipids (liquid fraction of subcutaneous chicken fat). Using ESR spectroscopy, hydrogen atom exchange is shown to take place between vitamin C and the radical of vitamin E. Sequential consumption of these two vitamins in oxidized lipid, first vitamin C then vitamin E, is demonstrated by means of differential pulse polarography. These results elucidate the in vitro radical scavenging functions attributed to vitamin E and vitamin C as well as their synergism in lipid antioxidation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nestlé, Research Department, Nestec Ltd., Avenue Nestlé 55, CH-1800, Vevey, Switzerland

    P. Lambelet, F. Saucy & J. Löliger

Authors
  1. P. Lambelet
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  2. F. Saucy
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  3. J. Löliger
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Additional information

The authors very much thank Dr A. Dieffenbacher and P. Ducret for the preparation of the chicken fat fraction.

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Lambelet, P., Saucy, F. & Löliger, J. Chemical evidence for interactions between vitamins E and C. Experientia 41, 1384–1388 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01949998

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