The respiratory quotient in diabetes

Abstract

Oxidation of protein in the body really consists in the destruction of a great variety of amino-acids. When glucose arises from protein in diabetes the oxidation is different from the normal. When the D : N ratio is 3.65 the respiratory quotient for protein falls from 0.801 to 0.634. From Osborne's analyses of meat protein, recalculated on the basis of Osborne's own determination of the deficiency of the analytical methods employed, it may be calculated that the six sugar-forming amino-acids, glycocoll, alanine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, proline and arginine, are present to the amount of 64.5 grams in 100 grams of meat protein. From the work of Ringer and Lusk and of Dakin and Dudley, it may be estimated that 44.4 grams of glucose arise from the several quantities of these amino-acids contained in 100 grams of meat. This would indicate a D : N of 2.75 and would explain the origin of 76 per cent. of the maximal sugar production from protein.The estimated quantity of 64.5 grams of sugar-forming amino-ac...