XYLITOL-INDUCED INCREASE IN THE PLASMA-CONCENTRATION AND URINARY-EXCRETION OF URIDINE AND PURINE-BASES

To determine whether xylitol increases the plasma concentration and ur inary excretion of uridine together with purine bases, we administered xylitol (0.6 g/kg weight) intravenously to six normal subjects using a 10% xylitol solution. Xylitol infusion increased the plasma concentr ation and urinary excretion of uridine, as well as purine bases, while it decreased both the concentrations of inorganic phosphate in plasma and pyruvic acid in blood and increased the blood concentration of la ctic acid, These results suggest that an increase in the plasma concen tration and urinary excretion of uridine is ascribable to increased py rimidine degradation following purine degradation induced by xylitol. Copyright (C) 1998 by W.B. Saunders Company.