ABSTRACT
Objective: The study was to exlpore the nutritional, antioxidative functions and toxicology of ascorbic acid in different levels in vitro. [WT5FZ]Methods: Hela (human transformed epithelial) cells incubated with three levels of ascorbic acid, i.e. 0.1 mmol/L, 0.25 mmol/L and 0.5 mmol/L, were calculated and a single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) was used for measuring DNA oxidative damage. [WT5FZ]Results: The results showed that there were no differences in spontaneous DNA damage of Hela cells incubated with three levels of ascorbic acid. However, there was a less DNA oxidative damage induced by H 2O 2 in 0.1 mmol/L and 0.25 mmol/L of ascorbic acid supplemented groups respectively than in control group. In contrast, more serious DNA damage was found in 0.5 mmol/L ascorbic acid supplemented group. [WT5FZ]Conclusion: It is suggested that the higher levels of ascorbic acid might not directly damage DNA; the moderate supplementation of ascorbic acid may increase antioxidative ability of cells; excess ascorbic acid is harmful to DNA and enhances the susceptibility to H 2O 2 potentially.