ABSTRACT
The relationship of vitamin C to carbohydrate metabolism was investigated by A. Sigal and C. G. King. A. Bonsignore and F. Pinotti reported that the ratio of oxidized to reduced ascorbic acid in the liver rose from 7.5:1 to 20:1 after 21 days on the scorbutogenic diet. J. W. Patterson pointed out the similarity between the chemical structures of dehydroascorbic acid (DHAA) and alloxan, both of which cause diabetes mellitus by damaging the ß-cells of the islets. S. Banerjee reported that both scorbutic and partially pancreatectomized, normally fed guinea pigs showed the diabetic type of glucose tolerance curve, had diminished glycogen in the liver, and excreted sugar in the urine, which indicated that the carbohydrate metabolism was similarly disturbed in both of these conditions. D. Merlini proposed the hypothesis that the hyperglycemia which follows the administration of DHAA results from a complex pharmacological action of this substance on the autonomic nervous system.
