L-Ascorbyl 6-palmitate

L-Ascorbyl 6-palmitate is a synthetic lipophilic ascorbic acid derivative. L-Ascorbyl 6-palmitate is an effective preservative in foods and an effective dietary antitumor promoter in mice. Studies indicate that dietary AP is a source of tissue vitamin C in animals. Besides, dietary L-Ascorbyl 6-palmitate possesses weak antiscorbutic activity in guinea pigs and enhances vitamin C nutriture in humans. In a study, daily mean weight loss during repletion in control animals receiving placebo was significantly greater than that for both L-ascorbic acid (AA) and L-Ascorbyl 6-palmitate animals for days 3–10 of repletion. Daily mean weight loss for AP animals was significantly greater than that for AA animals on days 5 and 6 of repletion. By comparing areas of the weight-time curve during repletion, L-Ascorbyl 6-palmitate appeared to be about 50% as effective as AA in reversing scurvy.