Metabolism of Intravenously-Infused Sorbitol

Peritoneal Dialysis with Sorbitol versus Dextrose Dialysate

“…The accumulation of fructose, sorbitol and other polyols intracellularly has been theoretically related to the formation of cataracts and the development of neuropathy in the diabetic [10,11]. The metabolism of pharmacologic doses of sorbitol has been extensively studied in animals and man [12][13][14][15]. Bye [16] has shown that the intravenous route of administration in man resulted in average urinary carbohydrate losses of 6% of the administered sorbitol dose.…”

Nutritional support of fistulas

“…Sorbitol is frequently used, but is metabolized to fructose and suffers the same disadvantages. It is also not reabsorbed in the renal tubules and was shown by Seeberg et al (1955) to appear in the urine even with low infusion rates. It thus tends to produce a marked osmotic diuresis and this is particularly undesirable in patients with fistulas, in whom fluid and electrolyte balance is already a problem.…”

The Use of Carbohydrate and Alcohol in Parenteral Nutrition

“…Several papers dealing with sorbitol as a parenteral nutrient have appeared (Seeberg et al, 1955;Hugenuard and Blaise, 1956;Stuhlfauth, Mehnerl and Pelle, 1960). Solutions containing amino acids and sorbi tol are easy to sterilize.…”

“…W hen dogs and rabbits are given sorbitol per os, there is only a m oderate am ount of this substance in th e blood but there is a pro m p t increase in blood sugar (Todd et al, 1939;Seeberg et al, 1954). T he sugar is fructose and it is supposed th at it can be formed directly from sorbitol (Seeberg et al, 1955). Adcock and Gray (1957) found th a t hum an diabetic and non-diabetic subjects excreted in the urine less than 3% of an oral dose of 35 g of sorbitol.…”

“…In diabetics requiring insulin about 65% of th e C14 was recovered as C140 2. Seeberg et al (1955) noted a prom pt fructosaem ia following sorbitol infusion, w ith a secondary conversion into glucose. These findings in the in tact anim al are in agreem ent with those of Embden and Griesbach (1914) in liver perfusion experim ents on phlorhizinized dogs, where a p rim ary oxidation of sorbitol to fructose followed by a secondary con version to glucose was probable.…”