title: Plasma C-peptide response to oral glucose load in hyperthyroidism.
abstract: Aim of the present study was to evaluate the pancreatic beta cell response to oral glucose load in a group of patients with hyperthyroidism. For this purpose plasma C-peptide at fasting and after a 100 g oral glucose load was measured in 8 newly-diagnosed untreated hyperthyroid patients with fasting normoglycemia, and 8 sex-, age-, and weight-matched healthy controls. As compared to healthy subjects, patients with hyperthyroidism showed higher plasma glucose levels (incremental area 5405 +/- 742 vs 2729 +/- 539 mg/dl x 180 min, p less than 0.05), and slightly reduced plasma C-peptide concentrations (incremental area 166 +/- 12 vs 182 +/- 36 pmol/ml x 180 min, p = NS) following oral glucose load. The ratios between plasma C-peptide and plasma glucose incremental areas were lower in hyperthyroid patients than in controls (3.66 +/- 0.85 vs 10.41 +/- 3.08, p less than 0.05). These data suggest that hyperthyroidism is characterized by a decreased pancreatic beta cell response to oral glucose load.
authors.affiliation: Cattedra di Malattie del Metabolismo, Università di Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bonora
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Manicardi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zenere
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moghetti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Coscelli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muggeo
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000097:blood*; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D002096:C-Peptide; D005947:Glucose