Cholesterol-Ascorbic Acid Relationship; Changes in Plasma and Cell Ascorbic Acid and Plasma Cholesterol Following Administration of Ascorbic Acid and Cholesterol

¹ From the Department of Pharmacology, Howard University Medical School, Washington, D. C.

Cholesterol when administered chronically in large amounts depressed the blood ascorbic acid content of cells or plasmas, or both, in rabbits and guinea pigs. Ascorbic acid administered simultaneously with cholesterol seemed to reduce the effect of the cholesterol. Acutely, ascorbic acid administration caused hypercholesterolemia in rats (noted also in other laboratory animals and in humans). It is suggested that hypercholesterolemia following ascorbic acid administration may result from liver release of cholesterol, which may be related to adrenal hormone action.