Effect of D-Sorbitol on Absorption of Vitamin B 12 by Pernicious Anemia Patients. ∗

Abstract

Summary

1) In the urinary excretion test 5 pernicious anemia patients excreted radioactivity corresponding to an average of 0.02 μg of Vit. B₁₂ when fed 2 μg of Vit. B₁₂ orally and excreted an average of 0.02 μg when fed 2 μg of Vit. B₁₂ together with 0.1 to 10 g of sorbitol. These patients excreted an average of 0.23 μg when fed 2 μg of Vit. B₁₂ with intrinsic factor and an average of 0.22 μg when 2 μg of Vit. B₁₂ were fed together with intrinsic factor and 10 g of sorbitol. 2) These 5 anemia patients excreted an average of 0.29 μg when fed 30 μg of Vit. B₁₂ and 0.12 μg when fed 30 μg of Vit. B₁₂ together with 10 to 21 g of sorbitol. The same 5 patients excreted an average of 0.35 μg when fed 30 μg of Vit. B₁₂ with intrinsic factor, and excreted 0.33 μg when 10 to 21 g of sorbitol was fed together with 30 μg of Vit. B₁₂ and intrinsic factor. 3) Sorbitol had no effect in promoting absorption of Vit. B₁₂ in pernicious anemia patients.