Peripheral and hepatic insulin sensitivity in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: effect of nonesterified fatty acids.

Plasma nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) levels are increased in the insulin-stimulated state in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and may contribute to the decrease in peripheral and hepatic insulin sensitivity. To test this hypothesis and to avoid the confounding effect of obesity, we examined the effect of decreasing plasma NEFA levels on peripheral and total glucose metabolism in eight non-obese, NIDDM patients. Each received 250 mg Acipimox (a nicotinic acid analogue) or placebo at 0 and 120 minutes on separate occasions. [6,6-2H2]-glucose (0 to 300 minutes) and insulin (120 to 300 minutes) were infused in each study, and isoglycemia was maintained. Plasma NEFA levels (140 +/- 30 v 600 +/- 70 mumol/L [SEM]; P < .001) and forearm NEFA uptake measured with [1-14C]-palmitate (+93 +/- 21 v +313 +/- 42 nmol x 100 mL forearm-1; P < .001) were decreased with acipimox during the basal period (90 to 120 minutes), with no change in forearm glucose uptake (+334 +/- 80 and +330 +/- 60 nmol x 100 mL forearm-1 x min-1) and hepatic glucose output ([HGO] 13.6 +/- 0.9 and 13.4 +/- 0.7 mumol.kg-1 x min-1). Serum insulin (256 +/- 12 and 266 +/- 18 pmol/L) and plasma glucose (9.5 +/- 0.6 and 9.4 +/- 0.5 mmol/L) levels were comparable during the clamp period (270 to 300 minutes).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes