ASCORBIC ACID

GOPI.M M V N 11 0 0 3 ( A N N ) M . V. S c . , S c h o l a r Dept. Of Animal Nutrition

Introduction:
It is chemically known as L-Ascorbic acid .

Formula: C6H8O6.
Colourless, crystalline, water soluble , having acidic &

strong reducing property.

Heat stable in acid environment, readily destroyed in alkali.
Destroyed by light.

Forms of Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)

 All species can synthesis Vit. C except primates including guinea pigs, insects, fish, humans are unable to synthesize Vit. C but birds Can Synthesize. It is synthesized from glucose in the liver and kidney.

Those that cannot synthesize Vit. C lack L-gulonolactone oxidase, the last enzyme needed for the conversion of glucose to Vit. C .

 Sources:
Vit. C is synthesized by plants. Animal foods do not provide Vit. C .

The only exception is liver, where Vit. C is stored in small amounts.

Citrus fruits, dark green leafy vegetables, are significant sources of Vit. C .

Natural Sources cauliflower Pepper raw corn rice lemon guavas Oranges Fish Milk

Vitamin C mg/100g as fed basis 50-90 100 12 0 80 300 40-60 5-30 1-7

Absorption, Transport, and Storage:

Absorption primarily occurs by an active transport system, but simple diffusion also occurs.

Most absorption in the distal SI, the average absorption is approx. 90%. Vit. C is transported in the plasma as free anion, and equilibrates with the body pool (stores) of the vitamin.

 Distribution: The highest conc. in adrenal gland (30 - 40 mg/100g wet tissue). Other tissues high in Vit. C are pituitary gland & retina. An intermediate level of the vitamin is found in the liver, lungs, pancreas and leukocytes. Smaller amounts in kidneys, muscles and RBCs. The tissue concentration of Vit. C usually exceeds the plasma level by 3 to 10 times.

EXCRETION:
URINE major route of metabolite excretion

SWEAT
FECAES

FUNCTIONS:
Vit. C is req. for synthesis of collagen, an important

structural component of blood vessels, tendons, ligaments, and bone.

Vit. C also plays an important role in the synthesis of the

NT - Norepinephrine (NE).
Vit. C is required for the synthesis of Carnitine, that is

essential for the transport of fat in mitochondria, for conversion to energy.

 Research suggests that vit. C is involved in

metabolism of cholesterol to bile acids, which may have implications for blood cholesterol levels and the incidence of gallstones.
Vit. C is also a highly effective antioxidant.
Vit. C may also be able to regenerate other

antioxidants such as vitamin E .

Vitamin E & Vitamin C

Tocopheroxyl Radical
CH2OH HO O O H O O -e- , -H +

Tocopherol
CH2OH O O

HO

L-Ascorbate Anion

Semi-dehydroascorbic Acid Radical

1. ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY:
Acts as a reducing agent (antioxidant). Fe3++ Ascorbate (AH-) -------->Fe2++ Dehydroascorbate radical(A-)

Free-radicals and ROS (HO2, H2O2, OH etc) formed during normal metabolism attack phospholipids and proteins in the cell membrane. Peroxyl radicals induce oxidation of LDL (risk of CVD) and oxidation of RBC (hemolysis)

Vitamin C Biochemical Functions

Glutathione Relationship: Dehydroascorbate H2O2

Reductase
NADPH

GSH

Glutaredoxin

GSSH

Ascorbate

2. COLLAGEN SYNTHESIS:
Vit. C is needed in a number of hydroxylation reactions particularly needed for various amino acids. For collagen molecules to aggregate into a triple helix, selected proline residues on collagen chains must be hydroxylated. The role of Vit. C in the hydroxylation of proline and lysine is of primary importance because it explains the protective role of Vit. C for scurvy.

3. TYROSINE SYNTHESIS: Tyrosine is made from phenylalanine hydroxylation via phenylalanine monooxygenase enzyme. Vit. C is needed for this reaction. This reaction also needs folic acid. Vit. C is needed for Cu2+dependent p- OH phenyl pyruvate hydroxylase

4. THE ROLE OF VIT. C IN NOR EPINEPHRINE SYNTHESIS

5. Serotonin Synthesis:
Vit. C, folacin and O2 are involved in hydroxylation of tryptophan for synthesis of neurotransmitter serotonin (5-OH Tryptamine) in the brain. 6.Cholesterol Degradation For Bile Synthesis:

Hydroxylation of cholesterols steroid nucleus by cholesterol 7 -hydroxylase diminishes in vit. C deficiency.

 OTHER FUNCTIONS:
Has a role in metal ion metabolism by reducing and chelating actions , by enhanced absorption . Have a stimulating effect on phagocytic activity of leukocytes and on antibody formation.

Cardiovascular Disease and Vit. C .

Many human studies report a relationship between low Vit.C status and increased plasma cholesterol levels. High plasma vitamin C also have been associated lower blood pressure and with higher HDL concentrations. Cancer prevention ?

REQUIREMENTS:
SPECIES POULTRY VITAMIN C mg/Kg DIET 250-300 (stress)

Vitamin C deficiency
Severe deficiency leads to Scurvy with the following manifestations: Bleeding & bruising easily Hair & teeth loss Joint pain & swelling Fatigue & lack of concentration

Scurvy
1700's the British navy was aware that scurvy could be

cured by eating oranges or lemons, even though vitamin C would not be isolated until the early 1930's.
Symptoms:

bleeding and bruising easily,

hair and tooth loss, joint pain and swelling.

Such symptoms appear to be related to the weakening of

blood vessels, connective tissue, and bone, which contain collagen.

Early symptoms of scurvy:

Fatigue may result from diminished levels of Carnitine,

needed to derive energy from fat,

or decreased synthesis of the NT Norepinephrine (NE) .

RUMINANTS:
Scurvy in oral cavity mucosa, muzzle, general

unthriftiness.
In calves extensive dermatosis, hair loss,

thickening of skin.
Oral supplementation destroyed by rumen

microflora.

POULTRY
New chick slow rate of synthesis. Heat stressed birds supplementation is useful

improves egg production, egg shell strength, interior egg quality.

Supplementation of 100ppm in layers improves

the condition in summers.

 Goats, like almost all animals, make their own Vit. C.

An adult goat will manufacture more than 13,000 mg of Vit. C / day in normal health and levels many fold higher when faced with stress.

It has been reported that the concentration of Vit. C

in plasma is decreased by heat stress in pigs & poultry.

Additionally, supplemental Vit. C has been

reported to improve feed intake and growth rates in heat-stressed birds.

 All poultry are capable of synthesizing Vit. C in the kidney tissue. However, the synthesis and use of Vit. C are not constant. changes

with age, management, environment, disease, nutrition and stress.

In the adrenal gland, Vit. C functions metabolically to help control

the production of the adrenal hormone, corticosterone.

A controlled rate of corticosterone release from the adrenal cortex is

preferred in coping with stress.

For adrenal cortical depletion of this hormone to occur would result

in death of the animal.

Vit. C plays a central role in the continued synthesis of

corticosterone.

 The proposed mechanism for this effect is through inhibition of the

21-hydroxylase and 11 beta-hydroxylase enzymes in the steroid biosynthetic pathway in the adrenal cortex.

Vitamin C supplementation to the diet and water during periods of

stress causes reduced synthesis of corticosterone .

For best results, the use of vitamin C in the diet or water should

begin at least 24 or 48 hours before the onset of stress and should continue throughout the stressful period.

TOXICITY:
The frequency of recorded toxicity is quite low, though many potentially harmful effects have been reported due to excessive intakes of vit. C. Though massive doses of vit. C lead to excessive oxalate excretion in urine, thereby increasing the possibility of Ca oxalate kidney stones. 4 g of Vit. C/day will increase the amount of uric acid excreted in urine. The resulting urine acidification with the excessive amount of urate being excreted could cause precipitation of urate crystals.

 Excessive doses of vit. C can cause diarrhea, but not for a long time.
Excretion of excessive vit. C in urine and feces can interfere with a variety of clinical tests, false negative for fecal occult blood, test for glucose in the urine can be invalid.

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