Experimental and clinical studies on the utilization of infused maltose after a surgical stress

Part III. Clinical study

Abstract

Considerable interest has been focused on the dynamic metabolism of the carbohydrates during and following surgery. The catabolism and responsibility of various hormones have been considered as manifestations of a“reaction to injury”.
In the preceeding two papers, it was obvious that infused maltose is efficiently metabolized as a source of calories after surgical stress. From the results of animal studies, the following investigation in human subjects were carried out to ascertain whether the metabolic disturbance caused by surgical stress can be influenced favourably by maltose infusion. In order to ascertain the consequences of the above investigation, twelve non-diabetic patients with gastric cancer were infused with isotonic maltose or glucose.
The following results were obtained: Both IRI and HGH secretion were not stimulated markedly and remained at equilibrium state by infused maltose in non-diabetic patients. It was disclosed that there was slight elevation in blood glucose by infused maltose, but not in IRI and HGH whereas glucose markedly stimulated blood glucose, IRI and HGH. Plasma FFA was not changed significantly by infused maltose. However, comparing the values of urinary excretion between maltose and glucose, urinary excretion of maltose was always larger than that of glucose. And both maltose and glucose were excreted in urine following maltose administration. The exact mechanism responsible for the excessive excretion of maltose remains to be clarified.