*2.6. Data and Statistical Analysis*

Area under the plasma and urinary ascorbate time-concentration curve calculations were determined using the trapezoidal rule as described previously [23]. The increase in circulating ascorbate (by weight) was calculated using Nadler's formula for estimating total blood volume [24] and the increase in urinary ascorbate (by weight) was calculated from the total volume of urine

collected. Data are represented as mean ± SD for group characteristics or mean ± SEM for comparisons between group means. Analysis of paired data was determined using two-tailed Students *t-*test with *P* <0.05 indicating statistical difference. Two way analysis of variance with Fisher pairwise multiple comparison procedure was carried out using SigmaStat software (version 11, Systat Software Inc., San Jose, CA, USA).
