American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 5, 39-41, Copyright © 1957 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc.

The Ascorbic Acid Content of Human Pituitary, Cerebral Cortex, Heart, and Skeletal Muscle and Its Relation to Age

¹ From the Division of Gerontology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri. Vitamin Studies in Middle-Aged and Old Individuals, XV

A study was made with the method of Roe and Kuether of the total ascorbic acid concentration in 69 samples of human pituitary gland, 71 samples of human cerebral cortex, 67 samples of human myocardium, and 63 samples of human pectoral muscle, derived from individuals ranging in age between 7 days and 88 years. Average values, respectively, of 0.617, 0.184, 0.042, and 0.033 mg/g fresh tissue were found.

A statistically significant decrease of ascorbic acid concentration with age was observed in the pituitary gland (r = –0.50, t = 4.72, N = 69) and in the cerebral cortex (r = –0.60, t = 6.23, N = 71). After an initial fall, no further decrease with age could be demonstrated in the ascorbic acid concentration in the myocardium after the second decade and in the pectoral muscle after the fourth decade.