The absorption of sugars from the human buccal cavity.

1. Certain sugars were transported across the buccal mucosa by a carrier-mediated mechanism. 2. The metabolic loss of sugars from the mouth in a 5 min test period was negligible. 3. The buccal mucosal transport process was stereospecific for D-glucose and L-arabinose. 4. The absorption of D-glucose, galactose and 3-O-methyl-D-glucose was at least partly dependent on the presence of sodium ions in the luminal fluid. 5. The transport of D-glucose, was inhibited by galactose and 3-O-methyl-D-glucose, suggesting at least one common carrier system.