ABSTRACT

A study was carried out on levels of ascorbic acid changes in patients with type II diabetes mellitus. The purpose of this study was to determine total plasma and mononuclear leukocytes ascorbic acid levels in diabetic patients blood in different age groups and four groups with respect to glucose and comparison with those of normal individuals. The subjects include 62 patients with type II diabetes and 38 normal individuals both within the age range of 30 to 65 years. The results show no correlation between total plasma and mononuclear ascorbic acid levels and the glycemic control method. Also there is no correlation between the mean of total plasma and mononuclear leukocytes ascorbic acid levels, glucose, stage and duration of diabetes. The mean of total plasma and mononuclear leukocytes ascorbic acid does not significantly differ between patients and normal subjects (p>0.05), but analysis of the existing data indicate a marked decrease of total mononuclear leukocyte ascorbic acid levels in patients with glucose above 250 mg/dl when compared with normal individuals and patients with glucose below 149 mg/dl (p<0.05) There is significant difference in plasma ascorbic acid between patients with glucose above 250 mg/dl and normal subjects and patients with glucose ranging from 150 to 199 and 200 to 249 mg/dl (p<0.05). This observation suggests an impaired uptake of ascorbic acid by tissues (mononuclear leukocytes) in patients with glucose over 250 mg/dl, and supports the theory that intracellular scurvy contributes to chronic degenerative complications of the disease.