The oxalate content of blood

Abstract

Three previously published methods were studied. Using the cerium procedure (Suzuki, S. Jap. J. med. Sci. (2nd series, Biochem.) 1934, 2, 291) no oxalate was detected in blood filtrate. The addition of limewater to blood filtrate (Merz, W. and Mangeri, S. Hoppe-Seyl. Z. 1931, 201, 31) produced a precipitate which was shown to contain only traces of oxalate. These results were considered to disprove the view that the oxalic acid content of blood is 2-4 mg./100 cc. An avg. value of 0.48 mg./ 100 cc. was found for human blood analysed by the 3d method (Barber, H. H. and Gallimore, E. J. Biochem. J. 1940, 34, 144) but this figure was regarded as approx. because of the difficulties of the technique and the possible production of oxalic acid from other blood constituents.