Studies on carbohydrate metabolism. I.—Variations in the nature of the blood sugar

Abstract
In a previous paper (1) it was shown that marked differences exist between the blood sugar of normal persons and those suffering iron diabetes mellitus. The sugar was extracted from considerable quantities of blood (usually 50 to 100 c. c.) by the method previously described. A comparison was then made between the observed optical rotation (P) and that calculated from the reducing power of the carbohydrate on the basis that glucose is the only reducing substance present. The latter factor is referred to in the text as (C). In the case of normal blood sugar the initial low value of P compared with C, together with the fact that it decolorises potassium permanganate solution indicate that the sugar does not belong to the normal stable type of glucose. In view of the work of Hewitt and Pryde (2) it was suggested that this sugar might be γ-glucose, although the evidence submitted by these authors is by no means conclusive (3). There is as yet no definite evidence available as to the nature of normal blood sugar. In investigating this subject we have undertaken an examination of the variations in the ratio P/C which ensue under varying conditions and our results are described in the following paper.

This publication has 10 references indexed in Scilit: