Effect of sorbitol on psychomotor function: its use in alcoholic cirrhosis.

Abstract

Sorbitol solution has been used to a control substance of evaluating the efficacy of lactulose therapy for hepatic encephalopathy (HE). However, recent in vitro studies suggested that sorbitol may be an inert placebo and may have therapeutic relevance. We evaluated in vivo metabolism of sorbitol in healthy volunteers and alcoholic cirrhotic patients and found that sorbitol was metabolized by gut bacteria in a similar manner to lactulose. We next evaluated the effect of sorbitol treatment on five psychomotor performances tests in cirrhotic patients. Patients receiving sorbitol demonstrated improvement in all psychomotor tests, whereas similar patients not receiving sorbitol showed no improvement. We conclude the following: sorbitol is metabolized by gut bacteria in man, sorbitol therapy improved psychomotor performance in cirrhotic patients, and previous studies using sorbitol as a control underestimated the beneficial effects of lactulose.

• Authors: C J McClain, J P Kromhout, L Zieve, W C Duane
• Journal: Archives of internal medicine (Arch Intern Med) Vol. 141 Issue 7 Pg. 901-3 (Jun 1981) ISSN: 0003-9926 [Print] United States
• PMID: 7235810 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Controlled Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Lactulose
• Sorbitol

Topics

• Humans
• Intestine, Small (metabolism)
• Lactulose (metabolism)
• Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic (drug therapy, metabolism)
• Male
• Mental Processes (drug effects)
• Sorbitol (metabolism, pharmacology, therapeutic use)