Plasma homocysteine concentrations are regulated by acute hyperinsulinemia in nondiabetic but not type 2 diabetic subjects.
An association between hyperhomocysteinemia and premature atherosclerosis in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) has recently been described. Little is known about the role of insulin in homocysteine [H(e)] metabolism. We measured plasma H(e) concentrations in the fasting state and during a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp in normal subjects and patients with NIDDM. Plasma H(e) decreased significantly from 7.2 +/- 2.6 to 6.0 +/- 2.7 mmol/L (P < .01) in normal subjects, but did not change in patients with NIDDM (6.0 +/- 2.7 to 5.9 +/- 2.5 mmol/L, respectively). These data suggest that plasma H(e) concentrations are regulated by acute hyperinsulinemia in normal subjects, but not in insulin-resistant NIDDM subjects. These abnormalities may have implications for the pathogenesis of premature vascular disease associated with NIDDM.
Fonseca
V A
VA
Department of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital, Little Rock 72205, USA.
Mudaliar
S
S
Schmidt
B
B
Fink
L M
LM
Kern
P A
PA
Henry
R R
RR
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D015309:Glucose Clamp Technique; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006946:Hyperinsulinism / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D012016:Reference Values
D006710:Homocysteine