1. In various tissues of the animal body, enzymes have been found which hydrolyze complex organic phosphorus compounds so as to liberate the phosphorus in the form of inorganic phosphates.
2. Metabolism studies of the phosphorus balance with diets containing inorganic phosphorus compounds, as compared with diets containing organically bound phosphorus, are somewhat conflicting in their results. The balance of evidence, however, is in favor of the view that there is no difference between organically combined phosphorus and inorganic salts with respect to the phosphorus balance.
3. Experiments indicate that the organism thrives on and supplies its phosphorus needs quite as well from inorganic phosphorus compounds as from organically bound phosphorus.
Marshall concludes:
“We see that the evidence is very convincing of the view that the animal organism can synthesize its complex organic phosphorus constituents from inorganic phosphates, and that organic phosphorus is of no more value as a food than inorganic.”
In view of this report, the Council deemed it advisable to take up the consideration of certain glycerophosphate preparations on the market. As the therapeutic claims are all similar, it is not necessary to quote them extensively.
TONOLS (SCHERING’S GLYCEROPHOSPHATES)
Tonols (Schering and Glatz, New York) comprise iron, lime, lithium, magnesium, manganese, potassium, quinin, sodium and strychnin “Tonols” or glycerophosphates; also Duotonol Tablets, said to contain equal parts of calcium and sodium glycerophosphates; Triotonol Tablets, each said to contain “Sodium Tonol 21⁄2 grains, Lime-Tonol 21⁄2 grains, Strychnine-Tonol 1⁄60 grain”; Quartonol Tablets, said to contain “Sodium and Lime-Tonols, each 21⁄4 grains, Quinine Tonol 1⁄2 grain, Strychnine-Tonol 1⁄200 grain”; Sextonol Tablets, said to contain “Sodium and Lime-Tonols, each 2 grains, Iron-Tonol, 1⁄2 grain, Manganese and Quinine-Tonols, each 1⁄4 grain, Strychnine-Tonol, 1⁄200 grain.”
The name “Tonols” is objectionable in that it is not only nondescriptive of the composition, but also therapeutically (and falsely) suggestive. The composition of the more elaborate Tonols is particularly unscientific; there is no justification for combining quinin, strychnin, iron, manganese, etc., in one formula.