The effects of ascorbic acid on cartilage metabolism in guinea pig articular cartilage explants

Clark AG, Rohrbaugh AL, Otterness I, Kraus VB · Matrix Biology

Ascorbate raises transcription of type II collagen, prolyl 4-hydroxylase and aggrecan, and the effect is stereospecific to the L-forms — the ones SVCT2 carries. Collagen and aggrecan synthesis rose too, but only when the acidity of the ascorbic acid itself was neutralised. The same experiment found every form of ascorbate tended to increase oxidative damage over control, most of all the non-nutrient D-forms and high-dose L-ascorbate.

Population

Guinea pig articular cartilage explants

Intervention

L-ascorbic acid, sodium L-ascorbate, ascorbyl-2-phosphate, and the non-nutrient D-isoascorbate forms

Limitations

Explant culture. The pro-oxidant signal at high dose is the first hint of the biphasic behaviour that the whole-animal work later confirmed, and it comes from the same laboratory.