A COMPARISON OF THE METABOLISM OF FRUCTOSE AND GLUCOSE IN HEPATIC DISEASE AND DIABETES MELLITUS 1

Abstract

Fructose and glucose metabolism were studied by means of standard intraven. tolerance tests. Fructose disappearance from the blood resembled a 1st order reaction with utilization directly proportional to concn. Rate of utilization was minimally impaired in liver disease and diabetes. Serum P fell more rapidly and returned to the initial level sooner with fructose than with glucose. Blood pyruvic acid, lactic acid, and alpha-ketoglutaric acid increased more markedly after fructose than glucose, with no significant differences between the normal controls, diabetics, or patients with liver disease. Fasting blood alpha-ketoglutaric acid was elevated in liver disease. It was postulated that there is a qualitative difference in the metabolic pathways of fructose and glucose.