Retention and Distribution in the Body

The estimated total amount of ascorbic acid in the human body tissues is on average 1500 mg (maximum 5 g) when completely saturated. Any excess of vitamin 

Kinetic Data on Turnover Rates of Ascorbic Acid for Different Species  

Species Half-time (d) Turnover rate (% decrease of total body pool per day) 

C is rapidly excreted. About 4% of this pool is lost daily (fractional catabolic rate) after intermission of vitamin C supply. The biological half-time of the pool is therefore approximately 8-40 days (Homig, 1981). The first symptoms of scurvy occur upon reaching a total body pool of 300-400 mg. Table II shows data on the turnover rate of ascorbic acid for man and different species. Table III shows the ascorbic acid concentrations in organs and body fluids of the adult man. 

The human tissues with particularly high ascorbic acid concentrations are the organs with intensive metabolism like pituitary gland, adrenal glands, eye lens, liver, pancreas, spleen, and brain. 

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In connection with the toxicity of selenium, it should be noted that arsenite presumably can overcome selenium poisoning and that selenium compounds have been used to treat heavy metal poisoning, arising from such metals as silver, cadmium, mercury and lead . This is thought to occur by altering the coordination of these metals (e.g. selenium compounds have a greater affinity for mercury and methyl mercury than do the sulfur analogs) as well as their retention and distribution in the body. 

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