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Human adrenal glands secrete vitamin C in response to adrenocorticotrophic hormone ^1,2,3,4,5

¹ From the Molecular and Clinical Nutrition Section, Digestive Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD (SJP, YW, and ML); the Diagnostic Radiology Department, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (JLD); the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD (JG); and the Developmental Endocrinology Branch (DAP), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD

Background: When vitamin C intake is from foods, fasting plasma concentrations do not exceed 80 µmol/L. We postulated that such tight control permits a paracrine function of vitamin C.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether paracrine secretion of vitamin C from the adrenal glands occurs.

Design: During diagnostic evaluation of 26 patients with hyperaldosteronism, we administered adrenocorticotrophic hormone intravenously and measured vitamin C and cortisol in adrenal and peripheral veins.

Results: Adrenal vein vitamin C concentrations increased in all cases and reached a peak of 176 ± 71 µmol/L at 1–4 min, whereas the corresponding peripheral vein vitamin C concentrations were 35 ± 15 µmol/L (P < 0.0001). Mean adrenal vein vitamin C increased from 39 ± 15 µmol/L at 0 min, rose to 162 ± 101 µmol/L at 2 min, and returned to 55 ± 16 µmol/L at 15 min. Adrenal vein vitamin C release preceded the release of adrenal vein cortisol, which increased from 1923 ± 2806 nmol/L at 0 min to 27 191 ± 16 161 nmol/L at 15 min (P < 0.0001). Peripheral plasma cortisol increased from 250 ± 119 nmol/L at 0 min to 506 ± 189 nmol/L at 15 min (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions: Adrenocorticotrophic hormone stimulation increases adrenal vein but not peripheral vein vitamin C concentrations. These data are the first in humans showing that hormone-regulated vitamin secretion occurs and that adrenal vitamin C paracrine secretion is part of the stress response. Tight control of peripheral vitamin C concentration is permissive of higher local concentrations that may have paracrine functions.

Key Words: Vitamin C • adrenal gland • stress response • cortisol • paracrine secretion

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				S. J Padayatty and M. Levine Reply to V Bahr et al Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, January 1, 2008; 87(1): 191 - 192. [Full Text] [PDF]

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