The Relationship of the Blood Pyruvic Acid Level to Deficiency States in Infancy and Childhood

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Abstract
Resting levels of pyruvic acid in the blood of infants was measured by the modified Neuberg-case method, and were found to range from 0.43 to 1 mg./l00 ml. with a mean of 0.78. This agrees with the levels found in adults by others. The presence of a toxic or infective state raised the blood pyruvic acid level in spite of an adequate thiamin intake. The elevation of the blood pyruvic acid is considered to be a valuable sign of disturbed carbohydrate metabolism without indicating the etiology.