Hormonal Changes During Ribose-induced Hypoglycemia

Plasma levels of insulin and human growth hormone (HGH) were measured in healthy adults after oral or intravenous administration of the pentose sugar D-ribose. Increased plasma levels of insulin were recorded after both oral and intravenous ribose; there was no consistent change in plasma levels of HGH after administration of ribose by either route. It is suggested that insulin release occurs at such times and in amounts as may account at least in part for the hypoglycemie effect of this pentose.