Ascorbic Acid Status of Alcoholics

The ascorbic acid status of 50 chronic alcoholics has been studiedby measuring the leucocyte ascorbic acid levels (L.A.A.) andassessing the intake of vitamin C from diet histories. The mean(± S.D.) L.A.A. level of the group was 18.18±11.01µg/10⁸W.B.C.,which was significantly lower (P < 0.0005) than that of amatched group (27.41 ±7.59 µg/10⁸W.B.C.). No clinicalfeatures of scurvy were noted in either group. The haematologicalstatus of the chronic alcoholics was also studied. The alcoholicswere not anaemic but there was evidence from the serum ironand erythrocyte protoporphyrin results that in 13 out of 36alcoholic patients the metabolism of iron was disturbed.