THE EFFECT OF DRUGS ON VITAMIN C EXCRETION

¹ From the Laboratory of Physiological Chemistry, University of Minnesota, and the Department of Pharmacology, University of Southern California

1. Salicylates caused an increased excretion of ascorbic acid in rats and guinea pigs, as determined by several methods.

2. In this process there seems to be a depletion of body supplies, as shown by the subnormal excretion in rats following cessation of drug administration. This was also borne out by the failure to obtain significant increases in ascorbic acid excretion in guinea pigs unless the intake was sufficiently high.

3. Caffeine, salyrgan and sodium bicarbonate did not have a similar effect. This was, therefore, not due to a general diuretic action or to renal damage.

4. The effect appeared shortly after administration of the drug. It would seem, therefore, to be connected with some direct action of the salicylates.

5. Cinchophen had a similar but slower and lesser influence.

6. On continued dosage in rats a level of excretion was reached which probably represented an approach to equilibrium between increased formation and increased excretion. The former did not quite offset the latter, however, as there was a slow decrease in excess excretion as time went on.

7. Several reasons are advanced for failure of various workers to obtain consistent results in man.

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