The Passage of Vitamin C across the Erythrocyte Membrane

Abstract

S ummary In all the species examined dehydroascorbic acid entered the erythrocyte considerably more rapidly than ascorbic acid (vitamin C). The uptake was pH‐dependent but did not appear to be influenced by enzyme inhibitors. The rate of uptake of the dehydroascorbic acid appeared to be influenced by the activity of an erythrocyte DHAA‐reducing system. Dehydro‐ iso ascorbic acid (dehydro‐d‐araboascorbic acid) entered the erythrocyte considerably less rapidly than DHAA. Ascorbic acid was released from the erythrocyte at a comparatively slow rate.