The suitability of maltose for parenteral nutrion

Maltose infusion were performed in rats and normal human subjects. Utilisation of maltose in a rat is fairly good. Blood glucose and lactic acid concentrations are elevated during the high dose of maltose in the rat and renal loss is limited to less than 5% of the total amount infused. In the human subject no steady state is reached during the 4 hour continuous infusion and the renal loss of maltose and glucose was 31% of the intravenous load. In contrast to the rat the blood glucose concentration in man did not increase. The metabolic utilisation of maltose in man was however demonstrated by a decrease in inorganic phosphate and serum free fatty acid concentration. It is concluded that maltose is not suited as a fuel for parenteral nutrition because of its low metabolic rate in the human being.