Weeks, Sinclair

Figure 12.3 Effects of 6 weeks vitamin C (ascorbic acid) supplementation In both patients and controls (from Sinclair et al., 1991). Controls "O", no complications group - a complications group. P < 0.001 compared with 0 weeks in all groups. P < 0.05 compared with 3 weeks. P < 0.01 compared with 3 weeks.

Much of what is known about skin scaliness in EFA-deficiency originates from the work of Basnayake and Sinclair who found that when rats were given EFA-deficient diets they grew at reduced rates, within a few weeks scaliness of the feet and tail developed, and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) rose by a factor of 10. When EFA was reintroduced to the diet the abnormalities disappeared, that is, the condition was reversible. We have shown that skin abnormalities of the EFA-deficient rat may be reversed also by topical application of linoleic acid, and this is as effective as feeding. Within five days of rubbing sunflower seed oil (a rich source of linoleic acid) onto the dorsal skin of deficient rats, TEWL was restored to normal, more rapidly than the scaliness was healed. 

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