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Fractional hepatic extraction of insulin in man: is it constant?

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Abstract

The present study was designed to compare insulin extraction by the liver following oral glucose administrations of different size, in order to evaluate insulin removal by the liver in relation to the insulin exposure, and to the amount of ingested glucose. Insulin secretion by the pancreas was estimated by the measurement of peripheral C-peptide levels, and insulin extraction by the liver by the analysis of peripheral C-peptide to insulin ratios and relations. Ten healthy subjects (5 males and 5 females), aged 16 to 66 yr, with normal bw, and without family history of diabetes mellitus were investigated by means of the administration, on alternate days, of 50 and 150 g oral glucose loads. After the 150 g oral glucose load plasma glucose levels were significantly higher than after the 50 g oral glucose administration: glucose incremental areas of 1.45 ± 0.12 vs. 0.55 ± 0.04 mmol/l • min, respectively (p < 0.001). Similarly, insulin concentrations were significantly higher following 150 g than after 50 g glucose ingestion: insulin incremental areas of 0.52 ± 0.09 vs. 0.20 ± 0.04 nmol/l • min (p < 0.001). Also C-peptide levels were higher after 150 vs. 50 g oral glucose load: C-peptide incremental areas of 1.85 ± 0.41 vs. 0.64 ± 0.13 nmol/l • min (p < 0.01). C-peptide to insulin molar ratios were similar during the two glucose challenge, and averaged 5.25 ± 0.42 vs. 5.08 ± 0.50 after 50 and 150 g oral glucose loads, respectively. Also the relation between C-peptide and insulin incremental areas after oral glucose did not differ in the two conditions under study (0.63 ± 0.05 vs. 0.67 ± 0.05). These results suggest that insulin extraction by the liver after oral glucose load is independent of the amount of insulin secreted in response to stimulus, and of the amount of ingested glucose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto di Clinica Medica Generale, Università di Parma, 43100, Parma, Italy

    Enzo Bonora, L. Capretti, V. Manicardi, I. Zavaroni, C. Coscelli & U. Butturini

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  1. Enzo Bonora
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  2. L. Capretti
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  3. V. Manicardi
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  4. I. Zavaroni
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  5. C. Coscelli
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  6. U. Butturini
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Bonora, E., Capretti, L., Manicardi, V. et al. Fractional hepatic extraction of insulin in man: is it constant?. J Endocrinol Invest 10, 45–49 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03347150

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03347150

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