Method for increasing the concentration of ascorbic acid in brain tissues of a subject

Abstract

This invention provides a method for increasing the concentration of ascorbic acid in the cells of a subject which comprises administering to the subject an amount of dehydroascorbic acid effective to increase the concentration of ascorbic acid in the subject's cells. This invention further provides a method for increasing the antioxidant potential of the cells of a subject which comprises administering to the subject an amount of dehydroascorbic acid effective to increase the antioxidant potential of the subject's cells. This invention also provides a method for increasing the concentration of ascorbic acid in brain tissue of a subject which comprises administering to the subject an amount of dehydroascorbic acid effective to increase the concentration of ascorbic acid in the subject's brain tissue. This invention also provides a method for increasing the antioxidant potential of brain tissue of a subject which comprises administering to the subject an amount of dehydroascorbic acid effective to increase the antioxidant potential of the subject's brain tissue.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A method for increasing the concentration of ascorbic acid in a cell which comprises contacting the cell with an amount of dehydroascorbic acid effective to increase the concentration of ascorbic acid in the cell.  
     
     
         2 . A method for increasing the antioxidant potential of a cell which comprises contacting the cell with an amount of dehydroascorbic acid effective to increase the antioxidant potential of the cell  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the cell is a brain cell.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the cell is present in a tissue.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the tissue is a brain tissue.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the cell is present in a subject and the contacting is effected by administering the dehydroascorbic acid to the subject.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the subject is human.  
     
     
         8 . A method for increasing the concentration of ascorbic acid in the cells of a subject which comprises administering to the subject an amount of dehydroascorbic acid effective to increase the concentration of ascorbic acid in the subject's cells.  
     
     
         9 . A method for increasing the antioxidant potential of the cells of a subject which comprises administering to the subject an amount of dehydroascorbic acid effective to increase the antioxidant potential of the subject's cells.  
     
     
         10 . A method for increasing the concentration of ascorbic acid in brain tissue of a subject which comprises administering to the subject an amount of dehydroascorbic acid effective to increase the concentration of ascorbic acid in the subject's brain tissue.  
     
     
         11 . A method for increasing the antioxidant potential of brain tissue of a subject which comprises administering to the subject an amount of dehydroascorbic acid effective to increase the antioxidant potential of the subject's brain tissue.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 3  or  4 , wherein the cells are brain cells.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 3  or  4  or  5  or  6 , wherein the subject is a human.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the subject has a neurodegenerative disease.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the neurodegenerative disease is Alzheimer's Disease or Parkinson's Disease.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the subject has neurovascular disease.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the neurovascular disease is stroke.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the subject is afflicted with a genetic disease of the nervous system.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the genetic disease of the nervous system is Huntington's Disease.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the subject is afflicted with a disease which involves the oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein or lipid peroxidation.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the disease is stroke, atherosclerosis or a neurodegenerative disorder.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the subject is afflicted with a behavioral disorder.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the behavioral disorder is dysthymia, involution depression, aggressiveness via dominance, hyperactivity, deprivation syndrome, separation anxiety, intermittent anxiety, instrumental sociopathy, stereotypies, phobia or a socialization disorder.  
     
     
         24 . A method for treating or preventing dementia in a subject comprising administering to the subject an amount of dehydroascorbic acid effective to increase the concentration of ascorbic acid in the subject's brain tissue so as to thereby treat or prevent dementia in the subject.  
     
     
         25 . A method for treating or preventing dementia in a subject comprising administering to the subject an amount of dehydroascorbic acid effective to increase the antioxidant potential of the subject's brain tissue so as to thereby treat or prevent dementia in the subject.  
     
     
         26 . A method for treating or preventing diseases involving free radicals in a subject comprising administering to the subject an amount of dehydroascorbic acid effective to increase the concentration of abscorbic acid in the subject's cells so as to thereby treat or prevent diseases involving free radicals in the subject.  
     
     
         27 . A method for treating or preventing diseases involving free radicals in a subject comprising administering to the subject an amount of dehydroascorbic acid effective to increase the antioxidant potential of the subject's cells so as to thereby treat or prevent diseases involving free radicals in the subject.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the disease is cancer, a cardiovascular disease or cataracts.  
     
     
         29 . A method for slowing the aging process of a subject comprising administering to the subject an amount of dehydroascorbic acid effective to increase the antioxidant potential of cells so as to thereby slow the aging process in a subject.  
     
     
         30 . A method for treating a subject infected with human immunodeficiency virus comprising administering to the subject an amount of dehydroascorbic acid effective to treat the subject infected with human immunodeficiency virus.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the dehydroascorbic acid is administered orally, intravenously, subcutaneously or intramuscularly.  
     
     
         32 . A method for treating or preventing a neurodegenerative disease in a subject comprising administering to the subject an amount of dehydroascorbic acid effective to increase the concentration of ascorbic acid in the subject's brain tissue so as to thereby treat or prevent a neurodegenerative disease in the subject.  
     
     
         33 . A method for treating or preventing a neurodegenerative disease in a subject comprising administering to the subject an amount of dehydroascorbic acid effective to increase the antioxidant potential of the subject's brain tissue so as to thereby treat or prevent a neurodegenerative disease in the subject.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32  or  33 , wherein the neurodegenerative disease is Alzheimer's Disease or Parkinson's Disease.  
     
     
         35 . A method for treating or preventing stroke or neurovascular disease in a subject comprising administering to the subject an amount of dehydroascorbic acid effective to increase the concentration of ascorbic acid in the subject's brain tissue so as to thereby treat or prevent neurovascular disease in the subject.  
     
     
         36 . A method for treating or preventing stroke or neurovascular disease in a subject comprising administering to the subject an amount of dehydroascorbic acid effective to increase the antioxidant potential of the subject's brain tissue so as to thereby treat or prevent stroke or neurovascular disease in the subject.  
     
     
         37 . A method for treating or preventing a behavioral disorder in a subject comprising administering to the subject, an amount of dehydroascorbic acid effective to increase the concentration of ascorbic acid in the subject's brain tissue so as to thereby treat or prevent a behavioral disorder in the subject.  
     
     
         38 . A method for treating or preventing a behavioral disorder in a subject comprising administering to the subject an amount of dehydroascorbic acid effective to increase the antioxidant potential of the subject's brain tissue so as to thereby treat or prevent a behavioral disorder in the subject.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37  or  38 , wherein the behavioral disorder is dysthymia, involution depression, aggressiveness via dominance, hyperactivity, deprivation syndrome, separation anxiety, intermittent anxiety, instrumental sociopathy, stereotypies, phobia or a socialization disorder.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a second agent.