The Metabolism of Acetic Acid in Phlorhizin Diabetes.

Abstract

Geelmuyden 1 has stated that acetic acid is convertible into glucose, as demonstrated by the production of extra sugar after the subcutaneous injection of the sodium salt into phlorhizinized dogs. He therefore assumes that it is an intermediary product in the hypothetical conversion of fat to carbohydrate. This investigator fails to call attention to an experiment of Ringer and Lusk 2 in which the oral administration of 10 grams of sodium acetate failed to elicit any additional sugar formation in a phlorhizinized dog.

The question was of sufficient interest to warrant the carrying out of additional experiments. We have been unable to give large doses of sodium acetate by mouth on account of its non-absorption, due to the violent catharsis which it produces, although in the experiment of Ringer and Lusk absorption was evidently complete. Three experiments have been made in which the substance was introduced intraperitoneally in amounts as great as 27 grams, and six tests in which it was injected subcutaneously. There was no indication from these results on completely phlorhizinized animals of any tendency of this substance to form glucose.

The excretion of volatile acids in the urine increases somewhat after the administration of the sodium acetate, but not sufficiently to account for any considerable percentage of the acetic acid injected. The conclusion is that acetic acid is not convertible into glucose nor largely excreted as such by a phlorhizinized dog. It must be largely oxidized. The hypothesis that fat may be transformed into glucose based on such evidence is, therefore, not valid.

This is a preliminary report.