GLYCEROPHOSPHATES

Physicians who prescribe on definite principles must often be puzzled by the number and variety of glycero­phosphates on the market. All available evidence indicates that, as sources of phosphorus to the animal organism, the glycero­phosphates possess no advantages over the ordinary inorganic phosphates.[290] The glycero­phosphates are split up in the intestine, and liberate inorganic phosphates. In this form they are absorbed and utilized, if they are utilized at all. There is no evidence that glycero­phosphates have any pharmacologic action to warrant the belief that they are of use as therapeutic agents. The theory that organic phosphorus compounds are more readily assimilable than inorganic compounds and hence a better means of introducing phosphorus into the system is still kept alive in the promotion of certain proprietary mixtures, in spite of the scientific evidence that the organism can assimilate phosphorus quite as readily from inorganic as from organic phosphorus compounds.[291] The glycero­phosphates will continue to be manufactured until physicians refuse to prescribe them. A chemist in the “research laboratory” of a well known manufacturing firm has recently given a rather interesting reason for the use of glycero­phosphates—from the manufacturers’ point of view. He is quoted as saying: “On account of the instability of phosphorus in elixir of phosphorus, nux vomica and damiana we have quite recently replaced the phosphorus by glycero­phosphates. Such a preparation is apparently equally as effective, for we continue to have a great demand for it.” This is doubtless a sufficient reason for the substitution from the manufacturers’ point of view; but how about the patient, who, after all, is the one to be considered? Is it not a matter of considerable importance to the patient whether he receives phosphorus, one of the most powerful drugs known, or the inert glycero­phosphates? The chemist’s statement seems to imply that it is not. It may be of interest to recall that a member of the firm whose chemist gives this “reason” for the use of glycero­phosphates, in a recent address, was rather severe in his condemnation of institutions of learning, hospitals, etc., for their lack of cooperation with manufacturers: he said that “they should welcome an opportunity to let any manufacturer try out or test his products in their clinics, laboratories, etc.” A test as to whether there is a difference between the action of glycero­phosphates and ordinary poisonous yellow phosphorus, especially when the former are mixed with extracts of nux vomica and damiana, would not be likely to appeal to many hospitals and laboratories as a very promising field of research at this day since, as has been stated, the scientific evidence at present available does not furnish any warrant for the therapeutic use of glycero­phosphates.—(Editorial from The Journal A. M. A., April 15, 1916.)