THE EFFECTS OF VARIOUS AMOUNTS OF ASCORBIC ACID INTAKE ON THE CHOLESTEROL CONTENTS IN SERUM AND LIVER AND THE MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES IN ARTERIES OF GUINEA PIGS / 营养学报

ABSTRACT

Male guinea pigs were placed on ordinary or high lipid diet for 30-36 weeks with various amounts of ascorbic acid (Vc) intake. The daily dose of low level intake was 0.7-1.2mg. The normal one was 2.5-5mg. The high dose was 30-45mg. The various amounts of Vc intake did not affect the cholesterol contents in serum and liver. The animals fed low level Vc were without "overt signs of deficiency, but morphological changes of aorta were developed in these animals either on ordinary or high lipid diet. On high lipid diet, the pathological changes of the vessels (aorta and arteriols in cardiac muscles) of animals fed low level of Vc were more severe than those of animals fed normal level, and those of animals fed high dose were the least severe.The result of this study suggested that the presence of a link between Vc and the integrity of the vessels. Prolonged low intake of YC may be regarded as being one of the causal factors in the development of arteriosclerosis. The requirements of Vc for subjects with high cholesterol level may be more than those of normal subjects.