346 ASCORBIC ACID 



sibility that these compounds may act as precipitating factors in human 

 diabetes. 



Giroud and coworkers^^^ were the first to report a correlation between 

 the content of the cortical hormone in the adrenal and the ascorbic acid 

 intake. Great interest in the problem was generated by the report of Sayers 

 et alr^' of marked changes in the adrenal ascorbic acid and cholesterol 

 following administration of adrenotropic hormone. Stresses of various kinds 

 have been shown to cause increased adrenal cortical activity correlated 

 with a rapid reduction in the ascorbic acid content of the gland. ^^*' ^^^-boo 

 Step to et al}"^^ obtained results in studies with guinea pigs which indicated 

 that hypertrophy of the adrenals does not occur until the ascorbic acid- 

 cholesterol ratio falls below 1:500. The degree of stress resulting from the 

 restricted food intake of guinea pigs on a scorbutigenic diet has been shown 

 to be much less than that imposed by the vitamin deficiency in its advanced 

 stage. '^■''^ 



The rapid disappearance of ascorbic acid from the adrenal during periods 

 of activity due to stress has been interpreted by some workers as indicating 

 that ascorbic acid is involved in the synthesis of the cortical hormone, ^^®' 

 493, 601 whereas others^"-" ^"^ have presented evidence suggesting that it has 

 little or no effect. Pirani^"^ has pointed out that, although present evidence 

 indicates that high concentrations of ascorbic acid are unnecessary for 

 adrenal cortical function, there is no indication that the vitamin is not 

 needed at least in small amounts. Even in advanced scurvy small amounts 

 of the vitamin are present, part of it in bound form.^^"^ In scurvy, an in- 

 creased excretion of formaldehydegenic substances has been reported by 



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