An adsorbent for oral administration comprising a spherical activated carbon which has many projections formed on the surface, i.e., in a number of 1-20 per µm2, and has a total pore volume of 0.4-0.8 mL/g, and in which the proportion of pores having a diameter of 1 nm or smaller is 37-55 vol.%, the total acid group amount is 0.24-0.56 meq/g, and the ratio of the total acid group amount (a) to the total basic group amount (b), (a/b), is 0.60-2.00. The adsorbent highly adsorbs toxic substances such as DL-ß-aminoisobutyric acid, indole, and indoxylsulfuric acid and lowly adsorbs substances necessary for the living body, such as a-amylase and lipase. The adsorbent is excellent in adsorption selectivity to such toxic substances.
