The AA content (yellow bar) was determined by HPLC coupled with ECD, as described in the Materials and Methods section. The total AA (total bar height) content was determined by the reduction of DHA with TCEP. The DHA content (red bar) was calculated by subtracting the AA content from the total AA content determined in a different chromatographic run. N.D. indicates not detected. The values are expressed as the means ± the SEMs of five animals. ANOVA analysis: F2, 12 = 104.3, P < 0.001 for the AA content and F2, 12 = 90.9, P < 0.001 for the DHA content. The error bars represent the SEMs for the DHA and AA. AA, ascorbic acid; AJ, acerola juice.