ABSTRACT
The daily urinary excretion of ascorbic acid was greater when atropine was taken, as compared with similar periods preceding and following the use of this medication. The immediate effect was a decrease in the blood plasma and urinary ascorbic acid levels, but the long-term effect seemed to be an increased urinary ascorbic acid loss. Ascorbic acid caused an increase in the urinary excretion of hydroxyproline and ascorbic acid, while calcitonin caused a reduction in the excretion of ascorbic acid and hydroxyproline. However, ascorbic acid does not itself directly affect the prothrombin level. Wilson has suggested that, "If fenfluramine is used to accelerate weight loss, catabolic loss of weight may be delayed until tissue ascorbic acid concentrations begin to fall."There is no evidence that this drug increases ascorbate utilization, but it does increase the urgency of our need for ascorbic acid, as the decreased activity of the zoxazolamine-metabolizing enzyme system occurs at an early stage in vitamin C deficiency.
