Effect of D-Sorbitol on Absorption of Vitamin B12 by Pernicious Anemia Patients.

Abstract

[long dash]In urinary excretion tests with 2 [mu]g and 30 [mu]g oral doses of vitamin B12Co58, sorbitol showed no effect in increasing vitamin B12 absorption in pernicious anemia patients. Five pernicious anemia patients excreted radioactivity corresponding to an average of 0.02 [mu]g of vitamin B12 when fed 2 [mu]g of vitamin B12 orally and excreted an average of 002 [mu]g when fed 2 [mu]g of vitamin B12 together with 0.1 to 10 g of sorbitol. These patients excreted an average of 0.23 [mu]g when fed 2 [mu]g of vitamin B12 with intrinsic factor and an average of 0.22 [mu]g when 2 fig of vitamin B12 was fed together with intrinsic factor and 10 g of sorbitol. These 5 patients excreted an average of 0.29 [mu]g when fed 30 Mg of vitamin B12 and 0.12 [mu]g when fed 30 [mu]g of vitamin B12 together with 10 to 21 g of sorbitol. The same 5 patients excreted an average of 0.35 fig when fed 30 [mu]g of vitamin B12 with intrinsic factor and excreted 0.33 [mu]g when 10 to 21 g of sorbitol was fed together with 30 [mu]g of vitamin B12 and intrinsic factor.