Absorption ascorbate

Iron absorption occurs predominantly in the duodenum and upper jejunum. The physical state of iron entering the duodenum greatly influences its absorption. At physiological pH, ferrous iron is rapidly oxidized to the insoluble ferric form. Gastric acid lowers the pH in the proximal duodenum, enhancing the solubility and uptake of ferric iron. When gastric acid production is impaired, iron absorption is reduced substantially. Ascorbic acid enhances iron absorption. Ascorbic acid mobilizes iron from iron-binding proteins in vivo, which in turn could catalyze lipid peroxidation. Iron absorption is inhibited by antacids, phytates, phosphates and tetracyclines. 

The course of carbon-14-radioactivity derived from oral (l- C)ascorbic acid in plasma and several tissues was studied in male guinea pigs up to 320 h after intake. The excretion of label was followed in respiratory carbon dioxide, urine, and feces. The evaluation by pharmacokinetic principles yielded an overall half-life of 61 h and a body pool of 21 mg with a total turnover of about 10 mg/d. The total turnover of ascorbate is lower than the daily intake (16 mg/d), indicating incomplete absorption. Ascorbic acid seemed to be bound in several tissues (adrenals, testes) to a higher percentage than in plasma. The maximum rate of excretion as carbon dioxide occurred at 0.5 h, whereas peak concentration of radioactivity in plasma was reached at 1.5 h. Therefore, presystemic metabolism must be considered. 

One way to Increase the bioavailability of iron in the diet is to increase the content of factors stimulating its absorption. Ascorbic acid is known to increase the absorption of iron. The Norwegian recommendation of ascorbic acid in the diet was until recently 30 mg per day. But we have accepted the Swedish recommendation of 60 mg per day partly because the bioavailability of the iron could be improved. 

Chromatographic methods, notably hplc, are available for the simultaneous deterrnination of ascorbic acid as weU as dehydroascorbic acid. Some of these methods result in the separation of ascorbic acid from its isomers, eg, erythorbic acid and oxidation products such as diketogulonic acid. Detection has been by fluorescence, uv absorption, or electrochemical methods (83—85). Polarographic methods have been used because of their accuracy and their ease of operation. Ion exclusion (86) and ion suppression (87) chromatography methods have recently been reported. Other methods for ascorbic acid deterrnination include enzymatic, spectroscopic, paper, thin layer, and gas chromatographic methods. ExceUent reviews of these methods have been pubHshed (73,88,89). 

Iron Absorption. A very important effect of ascorbic acid is the enhancement of absorption of nonheme iron from foods. Ascorbic acid also enhances the reduction of ferric iron to ferrous iron. This is important both in increasing iron absorption and in its function in many hydroxylation reactions (140,141). In addition, ascorbic acid is involved in iron metaboHsm. It serves to transfer iron to the Hver and to incorporate it into ferritin. 

Absorption, Transport, and Excretion. The vitamin is absorbed through the mouth, the stomach, and predominantly through the distal portion of the small intestine, and hence, penetrates into the bloodstream. Ascorbic acid is widely distributed to the cells of the body and is mainly present in the white blood cells (leukocytes). The ascorbic acid concentration in these cells is about 150 times its concentration in the plasma (150,151). Dehydroascorbic acid is the main form in the red blood cells (erythrocytes). White blood cells are involved in the destmction of bacteria. 

Up to 80% of oral doses of ascorbic acid are absorbed in humans with intakes of less than 0.2 g of vitamin C. Absorption of pharmacological doses ranging from 0.2 g to 12 g results in an inverse relationship, with less than 20% absorption at the higher doses. A single oral dose of 3 g has been reported to approach the absorptive capacity (tissue saturation) of the human intestine. Higher blood levels can be attained by providing multiple divided vitamin C doses per day. 

INDIRECT DETERMINATION OF ASCORBIC ACID BY ELECTROTHERMAL ATOMIC ABSORPTION SPECTROMETRY... 

In this work, a method based on the reduction potential of ascorbic acid was developed for the sensitive detennination of trace of this compound. In this method ascorbic acid was added on the Cr(VI) solution to reduced that to Cr(III). Cr(III) produced in solution was quantitatively separated from the remainder of Cr(VI). The conditions were optimized for efficient extraction of Cr(III). The extracted Cr(III) was finally mineralized with nitric acid and sensitively analyzed by electro-thermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The determinations were carried out on a Varian AA-220 atomic absolution equipped with a GTA-110 graphite atomizer. The results obtained by this method were compared with those obtained by the other reported methods and it was cleared that the proposed method is more precise and able to determine the trace of ascorbic acid. Table shows the results obtained from the determination of ascorbic acid in two real samples by the proposed method and the spectrometric method based on reduction of Fe(III). 

In order to concentrate the lead extract, remove the lead from the organic solvent by shaking this with three successive 10 mL portions of the dilute hydrochloric acid solution, collecting the aqueous extracts in a 250 mL beaker. To the combined extracts add 5 mL of 20 per cent ascorbic acid solution and adjust to pH 4 by the addition of concentrated ammonia solution. Place the beaker in a fume cupboard, add 3 mL of the 50 per cent potassium cyanide solution and immediately adjust the pH to 9-10 with concentrated ammonia solution. Transfer the solution to a 250 mL separatory funnel with the aid of a little de-ionised water, add 5 mL of the 2 per cent NaDDC reagent, allow to stand for one minute and then add 10 mL of methyl iso butyl ketone. Shake for one minute and then separate and collect the organic phase, filtering it through a fluted filter paper. This solution now contains the lead and is ready for the absorption measurement. 

Fig. 6.2.4 Change in the absorption spectrum of pholasin (14.5 p,M) caused by the luminescence reaction catalyzed by Pholas luciferase (1.1 p.M). The curve shown is the differential spectrum between a cell containing the mixture of pholasin and Pholas luciferase (0.9 ml in the sample light path) and two cells containing separate solutions of pholasin and the luciferase at the same concentrations (in the reference light path), all in 0.1 M Tris-HCl buffer, pH 8.5, containing 0.5 M NaCl. Four additions of ascorbate (3 iM) were made to the sample mixture to accelerate the reaction. The spectrum was recorded after 120 min with a correction for the base line. From Henry and Monny, 1977, with permission from the American Chemical Society.

Fig. 22. Kinetic curves of oxygen absorption by ascorbic acid in the presence of polytpro-pionitrile). (1) in the dark (2) in red light (3), (4) in white light...

The absorption of oral iron is decreased when tlie agent is administered with antacids, tetracyclines, penicillamine, and the fluoroquinolones. When iron is administered with levothyroxine, there may be a decrease in tlie effectiveness of levothyroxine When administered orally, iron deceases the absoqition of lev-odopa. Ascorbic acid increases tlie absoqition of oral iron. Iron dextran administered concurrently with chloramphenicol increases serum iron levels. 

C Ascorbic acid Coenzyme in hydroxylation of proline and lysine in collagen synthesis antioxidant enhances absorption of iron Scurvy—impaired wound healing, loss of dental cement, subcutaneous hemorrhage... 

Camire (2002) showed that texturization does not seem to have a great effect on mineral retention and bioavailability. Others have reported increased retention of ascorbic acid in rice- and maize-based snacks (Hazell and Johnson, 1989 Plunkett and Ainsworth, 2007), increased iron diffusibility and absorption of iron-complexed protein (Poltronieri et al, 2000 Watzke, 1998), and no difference in iron and zinc absorption in human subjects fed textured bran-flour (Fairweather-Tait et al, 1989). 

Vitamin B12 generally is well tolerated and exhibits minimal adverse effects. Injection-site pain, pruritus, rash, and diarrhea have been reported. Drug interactions have been observed with omeprazole and ascorbic acid that decrease oral absorption. 

Since many essential nutrients (e.g., monosaccharides, amino acids, and vitamins) are water-soluble, they have low oil/water partition coefficients, which would suggest poor absorption from the GIT. However, to ensure adequate uptake of these materials from food, the intestine has developed specialized absorption mechanisms that depend on membrane participation and require the compound to have a specific chemical structure. Since these processes are discussed in Chapter 4, we will not dwell on them here. This carrier transport mechanism is illustrated in Fig. 9C. Absorption by a specialized carrier mechanism (from the rat intestine) has been shown to exist for several agents used in cancer chemotherapy (5-fluorouracil and 5-bromouracil) [37,38], which may be considered false nutrients in that their chemical structures are very similar to essential nutrients for which the intestine has a specialized transport mechanism. It would be instructive to examine some studies concerned with riboflavin and ascorbic acid absorption in humans, as these illustrate how one may treat urine data to explore the mechanism of absorption. If a compound is... 

Fig. 10 Urinary excretion of riboflavin (A, B) and ascorbic acid (C, D) in humans as a function of oral dose. Graphs A and C illustrate the nonlinear dependence of absorption on dose, which is suggestive of a saturable specialized absorption process. Graphs B and D represent an alternative graph of the same data and illustrate the reduced absorption efficiency as the dose increases. (Graphs A and C based on data in Ref. 39 and graphs B and D based on data in Ref. 40.)...

Fig. 13 (Top) Influence of food on the absorption of different doses of riboflavin. (Bottom) Influence of food and divided doses on ascorbic acid absorption in three subjects. (Based on data from Refs. 39 and 77.)...

M Mayersohn. Ascorbic acid absorption in man-pharmacokinetic implications. Eur J Pharmacol 19 140-142, 1972. 

S Yung, M Mayersohn, JB Robinson. Ascorbic acid absorption in man influence of divided dose and food. Life Sci 28 2505-2511, 1981. 

Kostic, D. et al. (1995). Intestinal absorption, serum clearance, and interactions between lutein and beta-carotene when administered to human adults in separate or combined oral doses. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 62 604—610. Kuo, S. M. et al. (2001). Dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers inhibit ascorbic acid accumulation in human intestinal Caco-2 cells. Life Sci. 68(15) 1751-1760. 

In the enterocyte as it enters the absorptive zone near to the villus tips, dietary iron is absorbed either directly as Fe(II) after reduction in the gastrointestinal tract by reductants like ascorbate, or after reduction of Fe(III) by the apical membrane ferrireductase Dcytb, via the divalent transporter Nramp2 (DCT1). Alternatively, haem is taken up at the apical surface, perhaps via a receptor, and is degraded by haem oxygenase to release Fe(II) into the same intracellular pool. The setting of IRPs (which are assumed to act as iron biosensors) determines the amount of iron that is retained within the enterocyte as ferritin, and that which is transferred to the circulation. This latter process is presumed to involve IREG 1 (ferroportin) and the GPI-linked hephaestin at the basolateral membrane with incorporation of iron into apotransferrin. (b) A representation of iron absorption in HFE-related haemochromatosis. 

D-Glucosone (XII), prepared from D-glucose phenylosazone (XI) by the action of concentrated hydrochloric acid, is treated in aqueous solution with potassium cyanide. The imino-D-glucoascorbic acid (XIV) which readily separates shows many of the properties of ascorbic acid. Thus it shows a strong selective absorption band in the ultra-... 

From the method of preparation of the analogs of L-ascorbic acid and from their close resemblance to L-ascorbic acid in respect to chemical properties and absorption data, all these derivatives were assumed by analogy to have the characteristic unsaturated five-membered ring system already proved to be present in L-ascorbic acid. In two cases, namely that of D-gluco- (XV) and D-araboascorbic acid (XXXIX) the assumption has proved correct. 

There is good evidence for the presence of a five-membered ring in D-araboascorbic acid (XXXIX). This analog of L-ascorbic acid, prepared by method 2 (page 87) from methyl 2-keto-D-gluconate shows the same chemical properties and the same absorption characteristics as L-ascorbic acid. Titration of XXXIX with diazomethane affords, as in the case of L-ascorbic acid, a 3-methyl derivative LXXXII which upon further action with diazomethane gives rise to the 2,3-dimethyl-D-arabo-ascorbic acid (LXXXIII)3 ... 

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