FUNDAMENTAL STUDIES ON PHYSIOLOGICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIONS OF L-ASCORBATE 2-SULFATE. VI. EFFECTS OF L-ASCORBATE 2-SULFATE ON LIPID METABOLISM IN GUINEA PIGS

Abstract

Effects of L-ascorbate 2-sulfate (AAS) on lipid metabolism were studied in guinea pigs maintained on diet I with sufficient L-ascorbic acid (AA) supplement or on diet II without AA supplement. AAS(300 mg/kg) inhibited an increase in serum and liver levels of lipids to a greater degree than AA (175 mg/kg), a reference compond, in hyperlipidemic guinea pigs induced by cholesterol feeding with diets I or II. AAS also induced a decrease in serum and liver levels of lipids in guinea pigs which had been previously maintained for 6 weeks on diet II containing 1.0% cholesterol. AA administration significantly increased AA level in various organs of animals maintained on both the diets containing cholesterol. It also rectified the AA level lowered by previous maintenance on diet II containing cholesterol. AAS showed a slight AA replacing effect on the AA level. Both AA and AAS exerted preventive and curative effects on several symptoms due to chronic AA deficiency.