Urinary hydroxyproline in the elderly with low leucocyte ascorbic acid levels.

Fourteen elderly patients aged 58 to 91 with varying leucocyte ascorbic acid levels had urinary hydroxyproline/creatinine ratios measured before, during, and after treatment with ascorbic acid 1 g. daily for six days. The ratio increased during treatment in those patients whose initial ascorbic acid levels were below 15mug./10(8) white blood cells. It is suggested that collagen metabolism may be impaired in these patients, and that all such patients should receive ascorbic acid supplements.