Acute fructose administration improves oral glucose tolerance in adults with type 2 diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
In normal adults, a small (catalytic) dose of fructose administered with glucose decreases the glycemic response to a glucose load, especially in those with the poorest glucose tolerance. We hypothesized that an acute catalytic dose of fructose would also improve glucose tolerance in individuals with type 2 diabetes.


METHODS
Five adults with type 2 diabetes underwent an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) on two separate occasions, at least 1 week apart. Each OGTT consisted of 75 g glucose with or without the addition of 7.5 g fructose (OGTT + F or OGTT - F), in random order. Arterialized blood samples were collected from a heated dorsal hand vein twice before ingestion of the carbohydrate and every 15 min for 3 h afterward.


RESULTS
The area under the curve (AUC) of the plasma glucose response was reduced by fructose administration in all subjects; the mean AUC during the OGTT + F was 14% less than that during the OGTT - F (P < 0.05). The insulin AUC was decreased 21% with fructose administration (P = 0.2). Plasma glucagon concentrations declined similarly during OGTT - F and OGTT + F. The incremental AUC of the blood lactate response during the OGTT - F was approximately 50% of that observed during the OGTT + F (P < 0.05). Neither nonesterified fatty acid nor triglyceride concentrations differed between the two OGTTs.


CONCLUSIONS
Low-dose fructose improves the glycemic response to an oral glucose load in adults with type 2 diabetes, and this effect is not a result of stimulation of insulin secretion.
Moore
M C
MC
Department of Molecular Physiology, Diabetes Research and Training Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232-0615, USA. genie.moore@mcmail.vanderbilt.edu
Davis
S N
SN
Mann
S L
SL
Cherrington
A D
AD
D000328:Adult; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood*; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005632:Fructose / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D005990:Glycerol / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007773:Lactates / Q000097:blood; D009765:Obesity; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D001786:Blood Glucose; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D007773:Lactates; D014280:Triglycerides; D005632:Fructose; D005990:Glycerol