Fructose and sorbitol

General information

Attention has been drawn to the use of fructose-based and sorbitol-based solutions for parenteral administration in Germany and German-speaking countries, where they are available for routine fluid replacement and intravenous feeding, and are widely prescribed, even after minor surgical procedures [ ]. Their main advantage is claimed to be the avoidance of a blood glucose raising effect, particularly in severely ill patients with glucose intolerance. In such cases it may be possible to avoid insulin therapy, since the first steps in the metabolism of these carbohydrates are insulin-dependent.

Organs and systems