L-ascorbic acid Vs Ascorbate - (Dec/05/2013 )

Hi scientists,

Is there anyone by any chance include ascorbate in their media? I wanted to know what is difference between L-ascorbic acid and ascorbate in cell culture media? Is there any effect in term of growth of cell or one of them degrades quickly in incubater etc. 

Thanks

Chemically there shouldn't be any difference - ascorbate is the anion of ascorbic acid, which the acid will form when put into solution (C5H7O4COOH + H2O  goes to C5H7O4COO- + H+).  If you add something like sodium ascorbate, then you will also be adding sodium, which may not be a good idea in terms of osmolarity.

Thanks