Oral Vitamin C Stimulates Bone Formation in Ovariectomized Mice.

<p>Representative reverse phase contrast (showing trabecular structure) (A) and fluorescence micrographs (showing calcein labels) (B) 8 weeks following ovariectomy (OVX) or sham operation (C) in 6 month-old mice. The mice were allowed to ingest vitamin C (VC) (5 mg/day) in drinking water <i>ad libitum</i>. Measurements of dynamic parameters, including mineralizing surface (MS) (C), mineral apposition rate (MAR) (D), bone formation rate (BFR) (E) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase- (TRAP-) labeled surfaces (Resorbed S./BPm) (F). Markers of bone turnover measured in plasma, namely osteocalcin (formation) (G) and C-telopeptide (resorption) (H). Statistics: comparisons were made for differences between ovariectomized and sham-operated mice (*p<0.05, **p<0.01), and within the sham-operated and ovariectomized groups, between vitamin C treated and controls (∧p<0.05, ∧∧p<0.01); n = 5 mice per group.