A series of phenylglyoxylic acids is described, many of which are able to promote carbohydrate oxidation in muscle tissue, thereby favorably altering the carbohydrate/fatty acid balance in situations where fatty acid utilization is elevated. Such situations are reported to occw in ischemic heart disease, particularly following myocardial infarction. In an attempt to effectively deliver the phenylglyoxylic acids to the site of action within the cell, ...