Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Plasma and leucocyte ascorbic acid concentrations in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

  • Published:
Irish Journal of Medical Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

LEUCOCYTE and plasma ascorbic acid concentrations were measured in ten normal children and in ten with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, of the same age-range (4–14 years) and matched for hospitalisation. Leucocyte ascorbic acid concentrations were higher in the normal children than in older adolescent children. Plasma and leucocyte acid concentrations were significantly lower in the leukaemic patients. The reduced levels could not be altributed to dietary deficiency, malabsorption of the vitamin, or the therapeutic regimen. It is concluded that the reduction in blood ascorbic acid is due to a pathophysiological tissue demand for the vitamin.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barnes, M. J., Kodicek, E. 1972. Biological hydroxylations and ascorbic acid with regard to collagen metabolism. Vitamins and Hormones, 30, 1.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bates, C. J., Levene, C. I. 1969. The effect of ascorbic acid deficiency on the glycosaminoglycans and glycoproteins in connective tissue. Nutritio et Dieta, No. 13. Basel/New York, Karger, pp. 131–143.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bodanski, O., Wroblewski, F., Markardt, B. 1951. Concentrations of ascorbic acid in plasma and white blood cells of patients with cancer and non-cancerous disease. Cancer Res., 11, 238.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cameron, E., Pauling, L. 1973. Ascorbic acid and the glycosaminoglycans. Oncology, 27, 181.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Denson, K. W., Bowers, E. F. 1961. The determination of ascorbic acid in white blood cells. A comparison of WBC ascorbic acid and phenolic acid excretion in elderly patients. Clin. Sci. 21, 157.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Documenta Geigy. 1970. Scientific Tables. Edited by K. Kiein and C. Lentner, 7th Edition. Basle. J. R. Geigy. pp. 618–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edgar, J. A. 1970. Dehydroascorbic acid and cell division. Nature, 227, 24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Editorial. 1970. The cell surface and growth control. Lancet ii, 1294.

  • Editorial. 1973. Environmental nitrosamines. Lancet ii, 1243.

  • Gupta, S., Santhanagopalan, T. 1964. Blood ascorbic acid levels in children. Indian Pediatrics, 1, 361.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Herrera, F., Adamson, R. H., Gallo, R. C. 1970. Uptake of transfer ribonucleic acid by normal and leukemic cells. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 67, 1943.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kalden, J. A., Guthy, E. A. 1972. Prolonged skin allograft survival in Vitamin C deficient guinea-pigs. Europ. Surg. Res. 4, 114.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Krasner, N. and Dymock, I. W. 1974. Ascorbic acid deficiency in malignant diseases: a clinical and biochemical study. Brit. J. Cancer, 30, 142.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kurup, S., Ghai, O. P., Taneja, P. N. 1961. Levels of blood ascorbic acid in scorbutic and normal children. Indian J. Child Health, 10, 342.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lewin, S. 1973. The ascorbic system and formation of 3’–5’ Cyclic AMP. London. U.S. Army Research and Development Group (Europe). Technical Report, ERO-3-73, European Research Office. pp. 15–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lloyd, J. V., Davis, P. S., Emery, H., Lander, H. 1972. Platelet ascorbic acid levels in normal subjects and in disease. J. clin Path., 25, 478.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Loh, H. S., Wilson, C. W. M. 1971a. An improved method for the measurement of leucocyte ascorbic acid concentrations. Internat. J. Vit. Nutr. Res., 41, 90.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Loh, H. S., Wilson, C. W. M. 1971b. The effect of supplementary Vitamin C on haemopoiesis during adolescence. Internat. J. Vit. Nutr. Res. 41, 445.

    Google Scholar 

  • Loh, H. S., Wilson, C. W. M. 1971c. The relationship between leucocyte ascorbic acid and haemoglobin levels at different ages. Internat. J. Vit. Nutr. Res. 41, 258.

    Google Scholar 

  • Loh, H. S., Wilson, C. W. M. 1971d. The relationship between leucocyte ascorbic acid concentrations and the total white blood count. Internat. J. Vit. Nutr. Res. 41, 252.

    Google Scholar 

  • Loh, H. S., Watters, K., Wilson, C. W. M. 1973a. The effect of aspirin on the metabolic availability of ascorbic acid on human beings. J. Clin. Pharm. 13, 480.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Loh, H. S., Watters, K., Wilson, C. W. M. 1973b. The leucocyte ascorbic acid uptake, direct antigenic challenge test—a sensitive in-vitro test for atopic allergy. Irish J. Med. Sci. 142, 217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mirvish, S. S., Wallcave, L., Fagen, M., Shubik, P. 1972. Ascorbate-nitrite reaction: possible means of blocking the formation of carcinogenic N-nitroso compounds. Science, 177, 65.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Odumosu, A., Wilson, C. W. M. 1971. Buccal absorption of Vitamin C. Proc. Nutr. Soc. 30, 81A.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stevenson, R., Brush, M. K. 1969. Existence and characteristics of Na+ dependent active transport of ascorbic acid in guinea-pig. Amer. J. Clin. Nutr. 22, 318.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Temin, H. M. 1972. Possible implications for medicine of RNA directed DNA synthesis. Triangle (Sandoz) 11, 37.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Waldo, A. L., Zipf, R. E. 1955. Ascorbic acid level in leukemic patients. Cancer (Philad.), 8, 187.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, C. W. M. 1973. The metabolic availability of Vitamin C. Vitamins 3. Basle. Editiones Roche, Hoffman-La Roche. p. 73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, C. W. M. 1974a. Vitamin C: Tissue saturation, metabolism and desaturation. The Practitioner, 212, 481.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, C. W. M. 1974b. Vitamin C: Tissue metabolism, over-saturation, desaturation and compensation in humans. In Vitamin C: Recent Aspects of its Physiological and Technological Importance. Edited by G. G. Birch, K. J. Parker, Applied Science Publishers, Ltd., London. p. 203.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Department of Pharmacology, Trinity College, Dublin

    S. C. Kakar, C. W. M. Wilson & J. N. Bell

  2. Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, Dublin

    S. C. Kakar, C. W. M. Wilson & J. N. Bell

Authors
  1. S. C. Kakar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. C. W. M. Wilson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. N. Bell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kakar, S.C., Wilson, C.W.M. & Bell, J.N. Plasma and leucocyte ascorbic acid concentrations in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. IJMS 144, 227–232 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02939018

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02939018

Keywords

Search

Navigation