Lack of effect of hyperglycemia on lipolysis in humans

To examine whether hyperglycemia is an independent regulator of adipose tissue lipolysis, we measured palmitate flux ([3H]palmitate) on two occasions in eight volunteers with insulin-dependent diabetes. On one. occasion, euglycemia was maintained for 4 h continuously; on a different occasion, hyperglycemia (plasma glucose, 12 mmol/l) was induced after 2 h of euglycemia. Palmitate flux decreased from 1.39 +/- 0.22 to 1.25 +/- 0.18 mumol.kg-1 x min-1 during sustained euglycemia and from 1.43 +/- 0.24 to 1.13 +/- 0.19 mumol.kg-1 x min-1 during the transition from the euglycemic to the hyperglycemic study intervals. There were no significant differences between the changes in palmitate flux from the first to the second study interval on the control (euglycemia-euglycemia) and experimental (euglycemia-hyperglycemia) study days and no difference between palmitate flux on different study days. Thus, in the face of euinsulinemia, euglucagonemia, and the absence of somatostatin, no effect of hyperglycemia on free fatty acid metabolism could be detected in humans.

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Lack of effect of hyperglycemia on lipolysis in humans

AJP Endocrinology and Metabolism ◽

10.1152/ajpendo.1990.259.4.e542 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 259 (4) ◽

pp. E542-E547

Author(s):

M. Caruso ◽

G. D. Divertie ◽

M. D. Jensen ◽

J. M. Miles

Keyword(s):

Growth Hormone ◽

Adipose Tissue ◽

Fatty Acid ◽

Free Fatty Acid ◽

Plasma Glucose ◽

Time Dependent ◽

Constant Infusion ◽

Insulin Dependent ◽

Adipose Tissue Lipolysis ◽

Per Se

Controversy exists regarding whether plasma glucose concentrations are independently involved in the regulation of adipose tissue lipolysis. In the present study, six subjects with insulin-dependent diabetes and six nondiabetic volunteers were studied during infusion of somatostatin, growth hormone, and insulin at rates designed to maintain basal rates of lipolysis, which was traced using a constant infusion of [1-14C]palmitate. A euglycemic (approximately 5 mmol/l) clamp was performed for 3 h, followed by 3 h of hyperglycemia (approximately 9 and approximately 11 mmol/l in nondiabetic and diabetic subjects, respectively). Ten nondiabetic subjects were studied during 6 h of euglycemia to exclude time-dependent changes in lipolysis. The results showed that palmitate concentrations did not change between euglycemia and hyperglycemia in either group [118 +/- 10 vs. 132 +/- 14 mumol/l and 145 +/- 21 vs. 134 +/- 15 mumol/l in nondiabetic and diabetic subjects, respectively; both P = not significant (NS)]. Similarly, palmitate rate of appearance (Ra) did not change during hyperglycemia (1.0 +/- 0.1 and 1.7 +/- 0.4 mumol.kg-1.min-1 in nondiabetic and diabetic subjects, respectively) compared with euglycemia (1.0 +/- 0.1 and 1.6 +/- 0.4 mumol.kg-1.min-1 in nondiabetic and diabetic subjects, respectively; P = NS). Palmitate concentrations and Ra did not change during 6 h of euglycemia in nondiabetic volunteers. Thus hyperglycemia per se has no effect on free fatty acid turnover. Changes in lipolysis that occur coincident with hyperglycemia are probably due to changes in other circulating substrates or hormones known to affect lipolysis.

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