Species dependence of the vitamin C requirement

THE CONTEXT

Vitamin C is a dietary vitamin only in species unable to synthesize it through the uronic acid pathway.

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Vitamin C is a vitamin for humans and other primates, guinea pigs, bats, passeriform birds, and most fishes and invertebrates.

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Other animals synthesize vitamin C as an intermediate in the uronic acid pathway of glucose metabolism.

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Species requiring vitamin C lack gulonolactone oxidase.

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Both ascorbic acid and dehydroascorbic acid have vitamin activity.

NEETx

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