To investigate in vivo interactions between antioxidant vitamins C and E, sparing effects of vitamin C on vitamin E as well as of vitamin E on vitamin C was evaluated using inherently scorbutic [Osteogenic Disorder Shionogi (ODS)] rats, which were divided into 4 groups (the control, vitamin E-deficient, vitamin C-deficient and simultaneously vitamins C and Edeficient). The levels of vitamins C and E in tissues were determined on 0, 14 and 21 day (d) of deficiency. On d 14, the vitamin E concentrations in plasma, liver, brain and lung of the vitamin C-deficient group were significantly lower than that of the control, supporting the literature concerning the sparing of vitamin E by ascorbate. The vitamin E concentration of the vitamin C-deficient group was also significantly lower in plasma, heart, liver, lung and kidney than that of the control on d 21. Based on 2-way ANOVA, significant interactions between vitamins C and E were observed on d 21 concerning vitamin E concentration in plasma, heart, lung, liver and kidney. The ascorbate levels in plasma, heart, liver, muscle and kidney of the vitamin E-deficient group were significantly lower than the corresponding control on d 21. Based on 2-way ANOVA, significant interactions between vitamins C and E were observed on d 21 concerning vitamin C concentration in plasma, heart, liver, kidney and muscle. These results suggested a sparing effect of vitamin E on vitamin C and this effect was observed for the first time in the present study. The extent of the interaction depended on the nature of the tissue. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in plasma and liver of the vitamin Cdeficient rats were significantly higher than those of the control and the vitamin E-deficient groups on d 21. This result supported a view that the deficiency of vitamin C was more serious in raising oxidative stress than that of vitamin E. TBARS of the liver in the simultaneously vitamins C and E-deficient rats were significantly higher than those in all other groups, suggesting an additive effect of the deficiencies of vitamins C and E on TBARS.

DESCENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Vol.19/THE DESCENTE AND ISHIMOTO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION SPORTS SCIENCE