[Carbohydrate and lipid metabolism following heart bypass operations. The effect of the intravenous hypocaloric administration of glucose versus glucose xylitol (1:1)].

The effect of glucose-xylitol infusion on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism was investigated in 18 metabolically normal men (mean age 56.1 [35-65] years) with coronary heart disease after they had undergone a coronary artery bypass operation. During the first postoperative hours, group I (n = 6) received glucose only (2 mg/kg.min), group II (n = 6) glucose+xylitol (1 mg/kg.min each), and group II a glucose-containing electrolyte solution (0.83 mg/kg.min glucose). Blood glucose and insulin concentrations during the infusion period were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in groups II and III than I (glucose after 6 h: group I 21.5 [15.3-26.8] mmol/l; group II 14.2 [11.2-18.1] mmol/l; group III 12.6 [6.8-16.0] mmol/l). The highest lactate concentrations were reached in group I, 6 hours after the operation. Palmitine and stearine, as well as oleic and linoleic acid concentrations were significantly lower 12 hours postoperatively in group I than groups II and III (P < 0.05). These data indicate that energy-ineffective high glucose concentrations were avoided and endogenous lactate production reduced by the postoperative infusion of glucose+xylitol. In addition, it achieved a higher supply of free fatty acids as energy source to the myocardium without reaching toxic concentrations in the postischaemic myocardium.