抄録
Guinea pigs were divided into feed groups, and fed diets different in far content and deficient in vitamin C. After appearance of deficiency symptoms, they were given vitamin C, and total vitamin C in blood and organs (liver, spleen and adrenal) as well as lipid fractions (total lipid, total cholesterol, cholesterolester, neutral fat, free fatty acid, phospholipid and lipoperoxide) were determined every ten days.
The results obtained are as follows :
1) The symptom of vitamin C deficiency was faster in appearance and later in disappearance as the fat content of diet was increased.
2) Total vitamin C in blood and organs was not clearly correlated with the fat content of diet.
3) When the diet was deficient in vitamin C, the adrenal and spleen increased in weight, and vitamin C decreased in the adrenal among others.
4) Total lipid and each fraction of lipid increased in serum every day in case the diet was deficient in vitamin C and decreased after administration of it. Total cholesterol, free fatty acid, and lipoperoxide showed remarkable changes irrespective of the dietal level of fat, though the changes were especially striking in the rats on the medium-fat diet.
5) The increase of total cholesterol was greater than that of total lipid, resulting in a relative decrease of cholesterolester.
6) The results mentioned above suggest that vitamin C promotes lipid metabolism and prevents accumulation of lipid in the body.
