[Xylitol metabolism in human erythrocytes]

1. Washed human erythrocytes metabolize 1,14 muMol xylitol in 120 min under the following experimental conditions: pH 7.4 and 37 degrees C. 2. The levels of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate and ATP decrease during the incubation with xylitol. This decrease is not a specific effect of xylitol, but depends on the amount of C-atoms taken up. This could be shown in control experiments with fructose and glucose as substrates given separated or in combination with xylitol. The highest uptake of C-atoms has been observed with glucose plus xylitol as substrate. 3. 99% of the metabolized xylitol was recovered in the products lactate, Co2 and D-xylulose. 4. There was no measurable oxalate production from xylitol.