Abstract
The effects of megadoses of ascorbic acid (AsA) and cholesterol on lipid metabolism in rats and guinea pigs were studied. Plasma cholesterol levels were remarkably elevated in guinea pigs by the supplementation of 1% or 2% AsA in the diet. By the addition of both AsA and cholesterol, especially in the megadoses of AsA with cholesterol, plasma cholesterol levels were greatly elevated in both rats and guinea pigs. Cholesterol in the livers were markedly increased in rats by the addition of AsA and cholesterol in the diets. The effects of megadoses of AsA on plasma lipoprotein fractions were also investigated. By the addition of 2% AsA, among the plasma lipoprotein fractions, the alpha fraction was reduced in both rats and guinea pigs, especially the effect was remarkable in guinea pigs. From the results obtained in this experiment, megadoses of AsA, which correspond to 40 to 80 g per day in man of average body weight, had some adverse effects on serum cholesterol, liver cholesterol and plasma lipoprotein fractions in rats and in guinea pigs. The elevation of serum cholesterol levels, increased deposition of cholesterol in the liver, and changes of plasma lipoprotein fractions were remarkable when megadoses of AsA and cholesterol were added at the same time.
