Abstract
Xylitol was infused to male rabbits of about 3 kg. The fate of xylitol and the effects on the carbohydrate metabolism were studied.
1) Infused xylitol disappeared from the circulation rapidly. The half life time was estimated as 14 minutes after a single intravenous dose of 10 ml of xylitol solution (10%).
2) No significant increase of reducing sugar in circulation was found after administration of xylitol.
3) After 60-minute infusion of 10% solution of sugar alcohols at a rate of 0.2 ml per minute, xylitol and sorbitol diappeared from the circulation with half life times of 18 and 35 minutes. Mannitol disappeared more slowly with a half life time of 66 minutes.
4) During and after the infusion of xylitol, little change of blood glucose level was noticed in healthy animals. In alloxan diabetic animals, however, blood glucose concentration increased during and for some time after the infusion. Little or no change in blood glucose level was observed with sorbitol or mannitol infusion.
5) Blood lactate level increased after infusion ofxylitol in healthy animals, but the pyruvate concentration in blood remained unchanged. In diabetic animals, the blood lactate increased corresponding to the blood glucose level. The blood pyruvate concentration increasedfor one hour after the infusion, then decreased.
