American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 25, 684-689, Copyright © 1972 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc.

Plasma ascorbic acid concentrations and oral contraceptives

¹ From the Department of Human Nutrition and Food, New York State College of Human Ecology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850

Plasma ascorbic acid and total ascorbic acid concentrations were determined in six subjects, four women who ingested oral contraceptives and two controls, over two and one-half menstrual cycles. The subjects were saturated with ascorbic acid. The cyclic patterns noted in plasma ascorbic acid and total ascorbic acid concentrations in the control subjects indicate that during the high estrogen and luteinizing hormone secretion phases of the cycle, plasma levels are increased. The differences between ascorbic acid (as determined by using 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol) and total ascorbic acid (as determined by using 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine) among the various phases of the cycle were equivalent.

Subjects ingesting oral contraceptives had lower plasma ascorbic acid and total ascorbic concentrations than did the controls. The results suggest that oral contraceptives depress plasma ascorbic acid levels and show that the drugs prevent the sharp increase in plasma ascorbic acid at the time of ovulation.

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