A relationship between ascorbic acid and threonic acid in guinea-pigs.

Threonic acid is a major breakdown product of ascorbic acid used as a food additive. When administered orally to guinea-pigs (100 mg/kg body weight) for periods of 4 or 28 days, it produced a significant fall in the ascorbic acid concentration of certain organs but was without effect on other physiological and biochemical characteristics. The lifespan of scorbutic guinea-pigs was significantly reduced by dietary threonic acid (100 mg/kg body weight). The results indicate that threonic acid may modify the metabolism of ascorbic acid in guinea-pigs.