Sodium ascorbate induces DNA single-strand breaks in human cells in vitro

Incubation of human lymphocytes, neonatal fibroblasts, and Molt-4 cells (T-cell leukemia cell line) with sodium ascorbate for 1 h resulted in a concentration-dependent increase in DNA single-strand breaks as assayed by an alkaline microgel electrophoresis technique. Fibroblasts and Molt-4 cells were significantly more sensitive than lymphocytes to the induction of DNA single-strand breaks by 25, 50, and 100 mu M concentrations of sodium ascorbate, Significant cell loss was observed in Molt-4, but not in lymphocyte and fibroblast cultures, after 4 h of incubation in 50 mu M of sodium ascorbate, a concentration similar to the plasma level of ascorbic acid in humans.