Abstract
In 21 patients plasma ascorbic acid levels were estimated sequentially during their course of radiotherapy. These levels were found to decline from a mean of 0.5 mg/dl to 0.3 mg/dl during a typical course of radiotherapy. This effect was more noticeable for therapy to abdominal sites than other areas, such as the head or neck. In a separate study of 16 patients with accessable tumours, the tumour ascorbic acid levels were estimated sequentially during a course of radiotherapy. These levels increased during therapy from a mean of 11.5 mg/ 100 g to 14.5 mg/100 g. The likely explanation of these observations is discussed and their implications explored in view of recent indications that vitamin C may exert a radioprotective effect.
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Moriarty, M.J., Mulgrew, S., Malone, J.F. et al. Effect of radiotherapy on plasma and tumour ascorbic acid levels. IJMS 149, 246–251 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02939148
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02939148