Etomidate-induced suppression of cortisol biosynthesis is a result of a blockade of 11-beta-hydroxylation in the adrenal gland, mediated by the imidazol radical of etomidate. Since the generation of steroids requires reductive and energy rich equivalents, the present study examined whether supplementation with ascorbic acid or xylitol, a major source of NADPH, could attenuate adrenal suppression by etomidate in human subjects by promoting the turnover rate of 11-beta-hydroxylase. During continuous etomidate/alfentanil anaesthesia for pelviscopic surgery 30 female patients received either Ringer's lactate, xylitol (0.25 g kg−1 h−1) or ascorbic acid (0.5 g h−1) intravenously (i.v.). The plasma concentrations of cortisol, aldosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) were recorded for 5 h after end of surgery and a stimulation with synthetic ACTH was performed. The results showed no evidence of a clinically relevant attenuating effect of ascorbic acid or xylitol on etomidate-induced adrenocortical suppression. However, the observed suppression of cortisol levels was not enough to allow an attenuating affect to be measured.