Effect of ascorbic acid on serum lipid levels and depot cholesterol of the baboon (Papio ursinus).

Twelve young male baboons were kept on a diet low in ascorbic acid for 3 months before the experiment. Six animals then received intravenous injections of ascorbic acid 60 mg/kg body mass every third day, while an isotonic saline solution was administered to 6 control animals. The serum ascorbic acid concentration of the animals treated with ascorbic acid levelled off after 9 days, at about 1,1 mg/100 ml. Ascorbic acid treatment resulted in a significant increase (P smaller than 0,005) in serum cholesterol values during the initial stages of treatment, but these returned to normal when the body pool was replenished with ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid also brought about a significant lowering in serum triglyceride values (P smaller than 0.05). In an acute experiment ascorbic acid caused a 12,7% increase in serum cholesterol level 2 hours after the intravenous injection of ascorbic acid 60 mg/kg body mass. The blood glucose value and serum triglyceride concentration were not affected. The results prove that ascorbic acid treatment causes mobilisation of cholesterol from body depots into the bloodstream.