Vitamin C Pharmacokinetics: Implications for Oral and Intravenous Use

  1. Sebastian J. Padayatty, MRCP, PhD;
  2. He Sun, PhD, CBS;
  3. Yaohui Wang, MD;
  4. Hugh D. Riordan, MD;
  5. Stephen M. Hewitt, MD, PhD;
  6. Arie Katz, MD;
  7. Robert A. Wesley, PhD; and
  8. Mark Levine, MD
  1. From the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, the National Cancer Institute, and the Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland; the Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, Maryland; and Bio-Communications Research Institute, Wichita, Kansas.
    1. Figure 1. Plasma vitamin C concentrations are shown as a function of time after the 1.25-g oral or intravenous dose administered at steady state for that dose in 12 persons (3 men, 9 women). Peak plasma vitamin C concentrations as a function of dose after oral or intravenous administration of vitamin C. Seventeen persons (7 men, 10 women) received doses from 0.015 to 0.1 g, 16 persons (6 men, 10 women) received the 0.2-g dose, 14 persons (6 men, 8 women) received the 0.5-g dose, and 12 persons (3 men, 9 women) received the 1.25-g dose. Persons received each dose while at steady state for that dose.
      View larger version:
        Figure 1. Plasma vitamin C concentrations are shown as a function of time after the 1.25-g oral or intravenous dose administered at steady state for that dose in 12 persons (3 men, 9 women). Peak plasma vitamin C concentrations as a function of dose after oral or intravenous administration of vitamin C. Seventeen persons (7 men, 10 women) received doses from 0.015 to 0.1 g, 16 persons (6 men, 10 women) received the 0.2-g dose, 14 persons (6 men, 8 women) received the 0.5-g dose, and 12 persons (3 men, 9 women) received the 1.25-g dose. Persons received each dose while at steady state for that dose. Plasma vitamin C concentrations in healthy volunteers after intravenous or oral administration of vitamin C.Inset:
      • Figure 2.
        View larger version:
          Figure 2. Predicted plasma vitamin C concentrations in healthy persons after oral (top) or intravenous (IV) (bottom) administration of vitamin C.

        Summary for Patients

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