Increased intestinal permeability to oral chromium (51 Cr) -EDTA in human Type 2 diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
In animal models of obesity and Type 2 diabetes, permeability of the intestine is increased because of impairment of tight junction proteins, allowing translocation of bacterial endotoxin and resulting in low-grade systemic inflammation. This has yet to be demonstrated in humans. The objective of this study was the demonstration of increased intestinal permeability in human Type 2 diabetes.


METHODS
We examined intestinal permeability using chromium ((51) Cr)-EDTA urinary recovery in twenty well-controlled men with Type 2 diabetes compared with control subjects matched for age, gender and BMI.


RESULTS
Intestinal permeability was significantly increased (P = 0.002) in the diabetic group and was correlated to increased levels of systemic inflammatory markers high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (r = 0.694, P = 0.001), interleukin 6 (r = 0.548, P = 0.012) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (r = 0.564, P = 0.010).


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first demonstration that increased intestinal permeability may be a feature of human Type 2 diabetes.
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford, UK.
F
F
Horton
J
J
Wright
L
L
Smith
P J
PJ
Hinton
M D
MD
Robertson
D000284:Administration, Oral; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000502:physiology*; D002860:Chromium Radioisotopes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000652:urine; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine*; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000502:physiology*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D007422:Intestines / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
D015415:Biomarkers; D002860:Chromium Radioisotopes; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D004492:Edetic Acid