Background: In this study we investigated the cellular absorption rates, antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity of vitamin C-lipid metabolites. The absorption was measured in a human lymphoblastic cell line using a spectrophotometric technique.
Material/Methods: Cellular vitamin C levels in the human lymphoblastic H9 cell line were measured using the 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine spectrophotometric technique. Free radical scavenging activity of vitamin C-lipid metabolites was measured by the reduction of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) to 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazine. Vitamin C-lipid metabolite scavenging of peroxyl radical oxygen reactive species (ORAC) was determined by fluorescence spectrophotometry.
Results: Compared to ascorbic acid (AA), calcium ascorbate (CaA), and calcium ascorbate-calcium threonate-dehydroascorbate (Ester-C®), vitamin C-lipid metabolites (PureWay-C™) were more rapidly absorbed by the H9 human T-lymphocytes. The vitamin C-lipid metabolites (PureWay-C™) also reduced pesticide-induced T-lymphocyte aggregation by 84%, while calcium ascorbate-calcium threonate-dehydroascorbate (Ester-C®) reduced aggregation by only 34%. The vitamin C-lipid metabolites (PureWay-C™) demonstrated free radical scavenging activity of nearly 100% reduction of DPPH at 20 µg/ml and oxygen radical scavenging of over 1200µ Trolox® equivalents per gram.
Conclusions: These data demonstrate that the vitamin C-lipid metabolites (PureWay-C™) are more rapidly taken-up and absorbed by cells than other forms of vitamin C, including Ester-C®. This increased rate of absorption correlates with an increased protection of the T-lymphocytes from pesticide toxicities. Further, vitamin C-lipid metabolites (PureWay-C™) are a potent antioxidant and have significant free radical scavenging capabilities.

Keywords: Absorption, Antioxidants - metabolism, Ascorbic Acid - metabolism, Diet, Free Radical Scavengers - metabolism, Lipid Metabolism, Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism, T-Lymphocytes - metabolism, Xenobiotics - metabolism