[Age-dependence of fructose and galactose tolerance following intravenous loading in piglets]

Fructose tolerance tests were applied to 54 piglets, aged between zero and 20 hours, two and three, five and seven, as well as 20 and 30 days. Fructose injections per kilogram of body weight were 0.5 g and 1.0 g. Galactose tolerance tests were applied to 33 piglets, aged between zero and 20 hours as well as between five and seven or 20 and 35 days. The galactose dose per kilogram of body weight was 0.5 g. Very slow or no fructose elimination at all was recordable from the circulation of animals, aged between zero and 20 hours, yet, with elimination rates being accelerated along with growing age. Piglets, aged between 20 and 30 days, eliminated fructose from the blood just as fast as glucose (th = 0.49 +/- 0.11 hr). Fructose depressed the glucose levels in the blood in animals, aged between five and seven days, but it failed to do so in animals, aged between 20 and 30 days, Galactose was found to be eliminated speedily from the circulation, that is immediately after birth, a maximum being reached at an age between five and seven days (th = 0.11 +/- 0.02 hr). Fructose space in piglets, aged between five and seven or between 20 and 30 days, was found to be significantly below that recorded from the two younger age groups. Galactose space in piglets, aged between five and seven days, was significantly below that of the other two groups.