[Effect of pregnancy on maternal carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. II: Changes in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism as well as hormonal changes following intravenous glucose administration].

The following parameters of glucose biokinetics in pregnancy, in which the behavior of the glucose in the steady state is described, were investigated mathematically following short-term disturbance of the steady state of the maternal metabolism by intravenous administration of glucose. The glucose assimilation coefficient (KG) is unchanged in pregnancy. However, both during pregnancy and post partum (2.30; 2.20; 2.36; 1.79 [%/min]), the values are higher than in the non-pregnant control group (1.2%/min). Analogously to these findings, the glucose distribution space increases during pregnancy from 13 liters to 16.3 liters, decreasing post partum to 13.4 liters. The easily exchangeable glucose pool, i.e., the quantity available for assimilation in the distribution space, is unchanged during pregnancy; nor is there any change as compared to the non-pregnant and postpartal control groups. Glucose transfer, i.e., the glucose quantity which enters or leaves the pool per unit of time, is increased during pregnancy (0.45; 0.444; 0.47 [g/kg/h]) as compared to the non-pregnant and postpartal controls (0.25; 0.35 [g/kg/h]). The findings above indicate that the maternal glucose metabolism is increased during pregnancy. Owing to the lipolytic effect of HPL, the mother is obliged to meet a portion of her energy requirements from the lipid metabolism, so that there is enough glucose available for the fetus. HPL appears to develop this glucose-saving effect doubly.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)