title: Pioglitazone reduces hepatic fat content and augments splanchnic glucose uptake in patients with type 2 diabetes.
abstract: The effect of pioglitazone on splanchnic glucose uptake (SGU), endogenous glucose production (EGP), and hepatic fat content was studied in 14 type 2 diabetic patients (age 50 +/- 2 years, BMI 29.4 +/- 1.1 kg/m(2), HbA(1c) 7.8 +/- 0.4%). Hepatic fat content (magnetic resonance spectroscopy) and SGU (oral glucose load- insulin clamp technique) were quantitated before and after pioglitazone (45 mg/day) therapy for 16 weeks. Subjects received a 7-h euglycemic insulin (100 mU. m(-2). min(-1)) clamp, and a 75-g oral glucose load was ingested 3 h after starting the insulin clamp. Following glucose ingestion, the steady-state glucose infusion rate during the insulin clamp was decreased appropriately to maintain euglycemia. SGU was calculated by subtracting the integrated decrease in glucose infusion rate during the 4 h after glucose ingestion from the ingested glucose load. 3-[(3)H]glucose was infused during the initial 3 h of the insulin clamp to determine rates of EGP and glucose disappearance (R(d)). Pioglitazone reduced fasting plasma glucose (10.0 +/- 0.7 to 7.5 +/- 0.6 mmol/l, P < 0.001) and HbA(1c) (7.8 +/- 0.4 to 6.7 +/- 0.3%, P < 0.001) despite increased body weight (83 +/- 3 to 86 +/- 3 kg, P < 0.001). During the 3-h insulin clamp period before glucose ingestion, pioglitazone improved R(d) (6.9 +/- 0.5 vs. 5.2 +/- 0.5 mg. kg(-1). min(- 1), P < 0.001) and insulin-mediated suppression of EGP (0.21 +/- 0.04 to 0.06 +/- 0.02 mg. kg(-1). min(-1), P < 0.01). Following pioglitazone treatment, hepatic fat content decreased from 19.6 +/- 3.6 to 10.4 +/- 2.1%, (P < 0.005), and SGU increased from 33.0 +/- 2.8 to 46.2 +/- 5.1% (P < 0.005). Pioglitazone treatment in type 2 diabetes 1) decreases hepatic fat content and improves insulin-mediated suppression of EGP and 2) augments splanchnic and peripheral tissue glucose uptake. Improved splanchnic/peripheral glucose uptake and enhanced suppression of EGP contribute to the improvement in glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Division, Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78284-7886, USA. mandeepbajaj@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Mandeep
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bajaj
authors.forename: Swangjit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suraamornkul
authors.forename: Thongchai
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pratipanawatr
authors.forename: Lou J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Hardies
authors.forename: Wilailak
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pratipanawatr
authors.forename: Leonard
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Glass
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cersosimo
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.forename: Ralph A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: DeFronzo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D015309:Glucose Clamp Technique; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D007700:Kinetics; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077205:Pioglitazone; D044469:Racial Groups; D013152:Splanchnic Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D013781:Texas; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002784:Cholesterol; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D000077205:Pioglitazone; D013844:Thiazoles; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D014280:Triglycerides