Pantothenic Acid Diffusion Lab Report

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A mixture of pantothenic acid, vitamin A, and vitamin C limits the diffusion of vitamin C through the dialysis tubing. Tryptophan limits the diffusion of vitamin C even more than the mixture of pantothenic acid, vitamin A, and vitamin C. Unexpectedly, the combination of all three substances (tryptophan, pantothenic acid, and vitamin C - vitamin A) did not show as significant a change in the diffusion of vitamin C as the Tryptophan alone. The cause for this could be that the vitamins and amino acids started to react with each other rather than trying to block the vitamin C from diffusing. This occurrence is a topic for more research. It was thought that by adding together vitamin K and tryptophan, highly polar and non-polar substances, the …show more content…

This unexpected result is the result of the sodium atom separating from the citrate, and the citrate is attracted to the vitamin C making it larger and thus much more difficult to escape. This connection would be powerful enough to cause the vitamin C to stay in the body for much longer than it would normally do so, the body more time to break down the vitamin C and use it. Though this reaction is not what was originally expected from the results in the experiment, it did changes the perspective of the research. Further study could give a glimpse into more of why this happens, and if the created substance that is with vitamin C is useable by the …show more content…

One example is the idea that vitamin C’s diffusion through the body may be slowed down when Tryptophan is added. This could mean that a pill or vitamin packet could be created containing vitamin C, Tryptophan, and other beneficial amino acids for people to use. As Linus Pauling believed, vitamin C has a number of positive effects on the human body, for example how it is known to help with muscle repair. An increase in bioavailability could assist athletes such as body builders or runners with muscle repair and therefore increase their performance. The supplement of these amino acids might be able to be used by people who are injured; the vitamin C and amino acids could help the body restore damaged tissue faster and with less scarring. With the finding of sodium citrate and vitamin C’s chemical bond, the potential skyrockets. Vitamin C could be added to sodium citrate, a common and perhaps more healthy salt replacement (Modernist Pantry, nd). Assuming that vitamin C boosts the immune system, the sodium citrate mixture could be used as a healthier option in food production to provide an inexpensive and effective way of increasing the health of citizens around the world. The increased absorption of vitamin C has a lot of potential to help those in need. The known benefits of vitamin C warrant further study and experimentation but the unknown possibilities, such as helping prevent cancer as Linus Pauling

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