ORAL VERSUS INTRAVENOUS ADMINISTRATION OF C-13-BICARBONATE

Four normal Indian male subjects were administered C-13-bicarbonate or ally or as an intravenous intermittent infusion in the fed state, acti vity restricted state on a cross-over basis. The enrichment in the bre ath samples (ape) as well as the calculated rate of entry into the bod y pool (Ra) were comparable between the two routes of administration. This suggests that oral administration can be used as an non-invasive alternative to intermittent intravenous administration of the isotope.