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Ascorbic Acid and its Oxidation Products

• Sasaki H; Giblin FJ; Winkler BS; Chakrapani B; Leverenz V; Shu CC., A protective role for glutathione-dependent reduction of dehydroascorbic acid in lens epithelium., Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1995 Aug;36(9):1804-17

In view of the antioxidant role of ascorbic acid and the glutathione redox cycle in the lens, the authors have studied the relationship of the cycle to reduction of the oxidized product of ascorbic acid, dehydroascorbic acid (DHA), in lens epithelium.

CONCLUSIONS

The exposure of lenses and lens epithelial cells to DHA under conditions in which the glutathione redox cycle was compromised resulted in the disappearance of GSH in the tissues and the appearance of GSSG. The reduction of DHA was shown to be linked to the glutathione redox cycle by a nonenzymatic interaction between GSH and DHA. Reduction of DHA in the lens is important because of the potential toxicity of this oxidant and/or its degradation products.