EXERCISE AND TISSUE ASCORBIC-ACID CONTENT IN GUINEA-PIGS

The effects of treadmill exercise (20 m/min, five days/wk, one hr/day) on growth and tissue ascorbic acid (AA) concentrations were investigated in 40 young, male guinea pigs. Animals were fed ad libitum an AA-free diet which was supplemented with AA. AA was administered daily via gavage feeding. Animals were divided into two groups, exercise (E) and sedentary (S). Food consumption and body weight were recorded. After eight weeks, animals were sacrificed and blood taken via heart puncture. Liver, spleen, adrenals and kidneys were removed, weighed and frozen. Plasma and organ tissues were analyzed for AA. Results indicated that exercise had no significant effect on growth. Growth was within normal range. Exercised animals had significantly (p<0.05) lower AA concentrations in liver (E, 3.29+/-0.63; S, 3.73+/-0.58 mg/100 g, mean+/-SD) and adrenal (E, 18.06+/-5.41; S, 21.98+/-7.88 mg/100 g) tissue as compared with sedentary guinea pigs. In summary, moderate running significantly reduced the AA concentration of liver and adrenal glands. These results suggest that AA requirement may be increased with moderate exercise.