THE EFFECT OF TARTRONIC ACID ON ABNORMAL FAT FORMATION FROM CARBOHYDRATE

Abstract

Rats maintained on a fat-deficient diet convert an abnormal amt. of carbohydrate to fat as indicated by respiratory quotients above 1. By the admn. of tartronic acid these abnormally high respiratory quotients can be reduced to less than 1. The possibility of an abnormal somatic deficiency of tartronic acid being of etiological significance in human obesity and pancreatic diabetes is suggested.