THE ABSORPTION OF GLYCINE AND ITS CONVERSION TO SERINE IN PATIENTS WITH SPRUE

Abstract

To assess the intestinal absorption of glycine, plasma concentrations of glycine, serine, and total amino acid nitrogen were measured after the oral administration of glycine to normal subjects and to patients with sprue. Patients with sprue exhibited a slower rate of glycine appearance and lower plasma concentrations than did normal persons. Intravenous administration of glycine to sprue patients did not reveal excessively rapid clearance so that impaired absorption of the oral dose is the most likely cause of the flattened curves in sprue patients. The concentration of serine and total amino acids followed the glycine concentration. No evidence was found of impaired conversion of glycine to serine. Sprue patients probably are not deficient in the folic acid derivatives required for this conversion although other folic acid factors may be lacking.