Effects of different levels of vitamin C intake on the vitamin C concentration in guinea pigs plasma and the effect of vitamin C intake on anaphylaxis.

The plasma ascorbate level after a single intraperitoneal dose of 25, 100 or 250 mg Na-ascorbate was followed up in vivo over a period of 24 hours. Intraperitoneal administration of Na-ascorbate caused a rapid increase of ascorbic acid plasma concentration. Maximum ascorbic acid plasma level was obtained 30 minutes after parenteral administration of the test dose. No great difference was found between the 12- and 24-hour ascorbic acid plasma values. The effect of Na-ascorbate on fatal anaphylaxis was also investigated in 18 guinea pigs. The animals treated with 281 mg/day Na-ascorbate rarely developed anaphylactic shock or the shock was of weaker intensity. Mortality was reduced from 40% (control group) to 11% when Vitamin C was given for four days before and one day after passive transfer of rabbit anti-HGG (human gamma globulin) antibody. A possible protective role of ascorbic acid by preventing anaphylaxis is discussed. Passive administration of ascorbic acid was found to protect guinea pigs from fatal anaphylaxis.