In this dissertation, we demonstrated that ascorbic acid is detectable in the human brain using a clinical 3T MR scanner, a standard PRESS sequence, and LCModel analysis. The accuracy of evaluating Asc concentration is reasonable compared with other metabolites. However, there are some conditions that apply to assure reliable vitamin C detection and quantification. The requirement on SNR is similar as for standard analysis of 1D MR spectra without an Asc basis included. The linewidth has to be sufficiently narrow in order to minimize overlapping effects between different metabolites. The limiting FWHM value of the spectra is between 0.043 and 0.076 ppm. Therefore, the average linewidth of in vivo spectrum acquired at 3T clinical scanners (on the order of 0.05 ppm) is sufficient but should not be significant exceeded.
As it is possible to detect and quantify ascorbate using a PRESS sequence acquisition and LCModel analysis, these findings will most likely also apply to other standard short echo time MRS acquisition methods, for example, STEAM, as long as the above conditions are fulfilled. Moreover, it has been shown that the Asc basis
should be included into the LCModel basis to avoid an overestimation of Glx. Other metabolites, not included in standard spectroscopic analysis so far, might also be detectable using modern MR scanners. This may be worthy of further investigation.
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