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Relief of Hypoglycæmic Convulsions with Butyric Acid

Nature volume 170, page 541 (1952)Cite this article

Abstract

THE lower volatile acids, acetic, propionic and butyric, have been widely studied in relation to intermediary metabolism1,2. Propionic acid is known to be glucogenic, and sodium propionate has been found to relieve severe hypoglycæmic symptoms in an adrenalectomized ewe; but sodium acetate was without effect3. Butyric acid has usually been studied in relation to the metabolism of fat and the production of ketone bodies4; but there are some suggestions that it may also be implicated in carbohydrate metabolism5. Moreover, Jarrett, Potter and Filsell6 have found that the concentration of blood sugar and of pyruvic acid was increased after sodium butyrate had been injected into the blood-stream of sheep.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Biochemistry and General Nutrition, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, University of Adelaide,

    B. J. POTTER

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  1. B. J. POTTER
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POTTER, B. Relief of Hypoglycæmic Convulsions with Butyric Acid. Nature 170, 541 (1952). https://doi.org/10.1038/170541a0

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