[Urinary excretion of microbiologically detectable forms of pantothenic acid in viral hepatitis]

The content of free and total pantothenic acid (PA) in the daily urine was studied microbiologically in 55 patients with virus hepatitis. At the height of the disease the excretion of the test vitamin forms with the urine noticeably decreased whatever the disease severity. During reconvalescence PA excretion rose because of the increase diuresis. However, the concentration of the vitamin in the urine did not reach normal. No disorders in PA metabolism were found in patients with hyperbilirubinemia of non-infectious genesis. Unlike normal subjects, oral administration of calcium pantothenate (50 ng) to patients with hepatitis results in a decrease of the excretion of the free form of PA. It is suggested that disorders in PA metabolism in patients with virus hepatitis are manifestations of functional vitamin deficiency which is a consequence of its reduced utilization.