Aging is an independent risk factor for the development of cardiovascular and many other diseases. The aging process is known to be associated with increased oxidative stress, possibly related to an age-inherent loss of antioxidant capacity. Vitamin C is a major naturally occurring antioxidant. Thus, we investigated its role in a rat model of aging. Vitamin C in plasma and tissues as well as malondialdehyde in the heart were measured in young (6 months old) and old (27-30 months old) F1 (F344 x BN) healthy male rats fed a normal diet. In old rats, vitamin C plasma levels were found to be decreased (p < 0.02) as compared with young animals. Furthermore, there was a tissue-specific distribution: in the heart, liver, kidney, lungs, and skeletal muscle, vitamin C decreased with age (p < 0.005 to p < 0.05), while no significant differences could be observed in the aortic wall and in the brain. Organs of the digestive tract rather showed an increase of vitamin C levels with, age. Oxidative stress, determined representatively in the heart by measuring malondialdehyde tissue levels, exhibited an age-dependent increase (p < 0.05). A distinct pattern of specific tissue distribution of vitamin C suggests a differential age-associated regulation. As vitamin C decreased concomitantly to an increase in cardiac lipid peroxidation, its supplementation may be useful to prevent age-related oxidative stress and tissue aging. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.