Abnormalities in Vitamin C Metabolism in Spina Bifida

SUMMARY A high incidence of Vitamin C unsaturation in children with meningomyelocele has already been reported. These results were obtained by the usual Vitamin C saturation test, but since this investigation is not entirely reliable confirmation was sought using an alternative investigation, namely the urinary excretion of parahydroxyphenylacetic acid. This is an intermediary in tyrosine metabolism and is excreted in excess in the absence of Vitamin C. Abnormally high levels were found in 75 per cent of the children, which corresponds with the number of abnormalities found in the earlier investigation. Possible reasons for the results are discussed. RESUME La grande frequence de desaturation en Vitamine C chez les enfants atteints de meningomyelocele a deja ete rapportee. Ces resultats ont ete obtenus par le test habituel de saturation en Vitamine C, mais comme cet examen ne presente pas une securite suffisante, on a cherche confirmation par un autre examen, e savoir l'excretion urinaire d'acide parahydroxyphenyl-acetique. Cet acide est un intermediaire du metabolisme de la tyrosine et est excrete en exces en l'absence de Vitamine C. On a trouve des taux anormallement eleves chez 75 pour cent des enfants, ce qui correspond au nombre d'anomalies decouvertes dans l'examen precedent. On discute des raisons possibles de ces resultats.