BACKGROUND: When vitamin C intake is from foods, fasting plasma concentrations do not exceed 80 micromol/L. We postulated that such tight control permits a paracrine function of vitamin C. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether paracrine secretion of vitamin C from the adrenal glands occurs. DESIGN: During diagnostic evaluation of 26 patients with hyperaldosteronism, we administered adrenocorticotrophic hormone intravenously and measured vitamin C and cortisol in adrenal and peripheral veins. RESULTS: Adrenal vein vitamin C concentrations increased in all cases and reached a peak of 176 +/- 71 micromol/L at 1-4 min, whereas the corresponding peripheral vein vitamin C concentrations were 35 +/- 15 micromol/L (P<0.0001). Mean adrenal vein vitamin C increased from 39 +/- 15 micromol/L at 0 min, rose to 162 +/- 101 micromol/L at 2 min, and returned to 55 +/- 16 micromol/L at 15 min. Adrenal vein vitamin C release preceded the release of adrenal vein cortisol, which increased from 1923 +/- 2806 nmol/L at 0 min to 27 191 +/- 16 161 nmol/L at 15 min (P<0.0001). Peripheral plasma cortisol increased from 250 +/- 119 nmol/L at 0 min to 506 +/- 189 nmol/L at 15 min (P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Adrenocorticotrophic hormone stimulation increases adrenal vein but not peripheral vein vitamin C concentrations. These data are the first in humans showing that hormone-regulated vitamin secretion occurs and that adrenal vitamin C paracrine secretion is part of the stress response. Tight control of peripheral vitamin C concentration is permissive of higher local concentrations that may have paracrine functions.
BACKGROUND: When vitamin C intake is from foods, fasting plasma concentrations do not exceed 80 micromol/L. We postulated that such tight control permits a paracrine function of vitamin C. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether paracrine secretion of vitamin C from the adrenal glands occurs. DESIGN: During diagnostic evaluation of 26 patients with hyperaldosteronism, we administered adrenocorticotrophic hormone intravenously and measured vitamin C and cortisol in adrenal and peripheral veins. RESULTS: Adrenal vein vitamin C concentrations increased in all cases and reached a peak of 176 +/- 71 micromol/L at 1-4 min, whereas the corresponding peripheral vein vitamin C concentrations were 35 +/- 15 micromol/L (P<0.0001). Mean adrenal vein vitamin C increased from 39 +/- 15 micromol/L at 0 min, rose to 162 +/- 101 micromol/L at 2 min, and returned to 55 +/- 16 micromol/L at 15 min. Adrenal vein vitamin C release preceded the release of adrenal vein cortisol, which increased from 1923 +/- 2806 nmol/L at 0 min to 27 191 +/- 16 161 nmol/L at 15 min (P<0.0001). Peripheral plasma cortisol increased from 250 +/- 119 nmol/L at 0 min to 506 +/- 189 nmol/L at 15 min (P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Adrenocorticotrophic hormone stimulation increases adrenal vein but not peripheral vein vitamin C concentrations. These data are the first in humans showing that hormone-regulated vitamin secretion occurs and that adrenal vitamin C paracrine secretion is part of the stress response. Tight control of peripheral vitamin C concentration is permissive of higher local concentrations that may have paracrine functions.
Authors: Francisco Nualart; Tamara Castro; Marcela Low; Juan Pablo Henríquez; Karina Oyarce; Pedro Cisternas; Andrea García; Alejandro J Yáñez; Romina Bertinat; Viviana P Montecinos; María Angeles García-Robles Journal: Histochem Cell Biol Date: 2012-09-19 Impact factor: 4.304
Authors: John O Opolot; Annette J Theron; Patrick MacPhail; Charles Feldman; Ronald Anderson Journal: Afr Health Sci Date: 2017-06 Impact factor: 0.927
Authors: Jack C Reidling; Veedamali S Subramanian; Tamara Dahhan; Mohammed Sadat; Hamid M Said Journal: Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol Date: 2008-10-09 Impact factor: 4.052
Authors: Emily H Siegel; Katarzyna Kordas; Rebecca J Stoltzfus; Joanne Katz; Subarna K Khatry; Steven C LeClerq; James M Tielsch Journal: J Health Popul Nutr Date: 2011-12 Impact factor: 2.000