Effects of a 48-h fat infusion on insulin secretion and glucose utilization.
To determine the effects of prolonged elevation of plasma free fatty acids (FFAs) on insulin secretion, we infused Liposyn II (4.3 mumol.kg-1.min-1) plus heparin (0.4 U.kg-1.min-1) intravenously into six healthy volunteers for 48 h. Another six volunteers received saline infusions and served as control subjects. In all 12 subjects (11 men and 1 woman), plasma glucose was clamped at approximately 8.6 mmol/l. Liposyn/heparin infusion resulted in a 9.4-fold increase in plasma FFA concentration (from 132 to 1,237 mumol/l), a 46% increase in insulin secretion rates (from 241 to 352 pmol/min, P < 0.05) (determined by deconvolution of plasma C-peptide concentration), and a 30% decrease, during the initial 24 h, in the rate of glucose infusion needed to maintain hyperglycemia (from 55.5 to 39.1 mumol.kg-1.min-1, P < 0.02). This decrease disappeared during the second 24 h. In summary, we found that physiologically elevated plasma FFAs 1) potentiated glucose-stimulated insulin secretion for 48 h and 2) initially caused peripheral insulin resistance that disappeared during the 2nd day, probably as a result of elevated circulating insulin levels. We conclude that in healthy volunteers under hyperglycemic conditions, fat infusion produced insulin resistance that was compensated for after approximately 24 h by persistent hypersecretion of insulin.
Boden
G
G
Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Chen
X
X
Rosner
J
J
Barton
M
M
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004655:Emulsions; D005217:Fat Emulsions, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D015309:Glucose Clamp Technique; D006493:Heparin / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D010743:Phospholipids; D012016:Reference Values; D012450:Safflower Oil; D013024:Soybean Oil; D013997:Time Factors
D001786:Blood Glucose; D004655:Emulsions; D005217:Fat Emulsions, Intravenous; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D007328:Insulin; D010743:Phospholipids; C063336:safflower oil, soybean oil, phospholipid emulsion; D013024:Soybean Oil; D012450:Safflower Oil; D006493:Heparin; D005947:Glucose