Promotion of carbohydrate oxidation in the heart by some phenylglyoxylic acids

Abstract
A series of phenylglyoxylic acids is described, many of which are able to promote carbohydrate oxidation in [dog] muscle tissue, thereby favorably altering the carbohydrate/fatty acid balance in situations where fatty acid utilization is elevated. Such situations occur in ischemic heart disease, particularly following myocardial infarction. To effectively deliver the phenylglyoxylic acid to the site of action within the cell, the L-(+)-phenylglycines were employed as prodrugs. These are known to be transaminated to phenylglyoxylic acids. L-(+)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)glycine (25, oxfenicine) was selected for clinical evaluation.