Plasma ascorbate status in newly diagnosed diabetics exhibiting retinopathy--a finding that alarms.

Diabetics, who developed retinopathy within one year of detection of disease were found to have a significantly low plasma total ascorbate concentration compared to those who developed retinopathy 7-17 years after detection of DM. Traditional metabolic parameters did not show significant difference between the two groups. Thus a severe ascorbate deficiency may be an important determinant in the pathogenesis of retinopathy independent of metabolic status and duration of DM. It merits early supplementation of ascorbic acid to retard the progression of microvascular complication.