The Unique Role of Ascorbic Acid in Peripheral Vascular Physiology as Compared with Rutin and Hesperidin; a Micromanipulative Study

Abstract

Using several previously established micromanipulative techniques, the peripheral vascular system has been studied in rats fed (1) a synthetic diet with and without rutin or hesperidin, and in guinea pigs fed (2) laboratory chow with added greens, (3) laboratory chow with greens and added rutin or hesperidin, (4) a synthetic diet with added vitamin C, with and without rutin or hesperidin, and (5) a synthetic diet devoid of ascorbic acid, with and without rutin or hesperidin. Increased susceptibility to “spontaneous” and induced hemorrhages in minute vessels proved to be unique in its association with ascorbic acid deficiency, regardless of whether the animals were fed supplements of either flavonoid. Neither gross signs of dietary deficiency nor any peripheral vascular phenomena were found that could be explained by a lack of rutin or hesperidin in the diet, or corrected by their supplementation.