RESUMO
The role of ascorbate as an antioxidant in the prevention and cure of disease that result from free radicals has been of considerable interest and controversy lately. As an antioxidant, we can expect it to protect against radiation damage caused by free radicals that are produced when radiation, especially sparsely ionizing radiation, interacts with living tissues. The plasma and whole blood concentration of ascorbate was analyzed before and just after the radiation therapy for the purpose of estimating the consumption amount of ascorbate during radiotherapy. Whole blood ascorbate was decreased from 1.82 mg/dl to 1.58 mg/dl, plasma ascorbate was decreased from 1.13 mg/dl to 1.08 mg/dl, and urine ascorbate was decreased from 9.33 mg/dl to 6.96 mg/dl after radiotherapy. Although the difference was not significant statistically, further human study should be followed to define the role of ascorbate as a radioprotector.