The Bactericidal Activity of Human Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes Before and After the Ingestion of Glucose
The bactericidal test has been used to determine whether the consumption of concentrated carbohydrate affects the ability of human leukocytes to destroy bacteria. Subjects were given a dose of 100 grams of glucose. Two hours later a blood sample was drawn and incubated with Staphylococcus epidermidis for 120 minutes. There was no significant difference in the bactericidal activity of leukocytes of blood two hours following the ingestion of glucose from the bactericidal activity of fasting blood. A count done simultaneously with the bactericidal tests of the average number of single cocci engulfed per polymorphonuclear leukocyte showed a slightly lower phagocytic index in blood collected two hours after the ingestion of glucose than in fasting blood. There is evidence to indicate that the ability of the neutrophil to phagocytize particles was impaired by post prandial blood glucose levels. However, once organisms had entered the neutrophil the ability of the cell to kill the organisms was not affected by blood glucose levels.
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