Activity of alkaline phosphatase in the serum of normal and ascorbic-acid-deficient guinea pigs.

Guinea pigs well supplied with vitamin C show a linear relation between serum alkaline phosphatase activity and body weight. Investigations in guinea pigs induced to low ascorbic-acid levels by two different procedures (complete and partial deprivation of vitamin C) demonstrated that the activity of the alkaline phosphatase is not generally decreased in the serum of ascorbic-acid-deficient guinea pigs. Decreases of the serum enzyme levels reported in guinea pigs completely deprived of vitamin C, i.e. in acute deficiency, may be due to stress factors.