title: Adrenergic activation, fuel substrate availability, and insulin resistance in patients with congestive heart failure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study sought to investigate plasma levels of glucose and free fatty acids (FFA) and their relationship with adrenergic activation and insulin resistance (IR) in patients with advanced congestive heart failure (CHF).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Adrenergic activation and IR are hallmarks of advanced heart failure. The resulting changes in fuel substrate availability and their implications for exercise capacity have not been elucidated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects with CHF underwent maximal exercise testing. Plasma glucose, FFA, insulin, and norepinephrine (NE) levels were measured at rest and at peak exercise. Beta-receptor sensitivity to NE was assessed using the Chronotropic Responsiveness Index (CRI). Homeostasis Model Assessment Index >2.5 defined IR. Left ventricular ejection fraction was estimated by 2-dimensional echocardiography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-six subjects were enrolled. CHF subjects without IR (CHF/No-IR), but not those with IR (CHF/IR), significantly increased glucose and insulin in response to exercise. Only CHF/No-IR subjects increased FFA in response to exercise (0.14 ± 0.27 mmol/l; p = 0.027). NE increased significantly less with exercise, and CRI was lower in CHF/IR subjects compared with CHF/No-IR subjects (1.3 ± 1.4 vs. 2.5 ± 2.1; 6.4 ± 2.6 vs. 8.5 ± 3.4; p = 0.069). CRI correlated with the exercise-induced increase in FFA (r = 0.41; p < 0.005). These results stayed the same after excluding diabetic patients from the CHF/IR group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Circulating FFA levels increased during exercise in CHF subjects without IR, but not in those with IR or DM. Increased FFA availability during exercise may represent a catecholamine-dependent compensatory fuel shift in CHF.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Nir
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Uriel
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Costello
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mignatti
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Kerry A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Nadav
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nahumi
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Paolo C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York. Electronic address: upj1@columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Ulrich P
authors.initials: UP
authors.lastname: Jorde
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D007328:Insulin; D009638:Norepinephrine
keywords: free fatty acids; glucose; heart failure; insulin resistance