Abstract
Summary and Conclusions
The availability of sodium pyruvate for brain oxidations in hypoglycemic insulin coma was studied in human patients. In 2 of 14 experiments with various amounts of pyruvate the patients roused slightly from coma, and in the remaining 12 there was no change observed in the clinical state. In 9 patients the oxygen uptake of the brain was observed, and there was a small, though statistically significant, rise. These results are in striking contrast to those observed with glucose, and indicate that the oxidation of pyruvate by the brain is not sufficient to adequately support cerebral functions.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.