Insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, glucosuria, and galactosuria in intensively milk-fed calves: dependency on age and effects of high lactose intake.

Calves intensively fed milk replacers frequently develop postprandial insulin resistance, characterized by excessively elevated plasma insulin concentrations, hyperglycemia, and glucosuria. To test the hypothesis that insulin secretion and insulin-dependent dependent glucose metabolism are modified by age and carbohydrate intake, 20 male calves (Simmental x Red Holstein) were fed a milk replacer containing 290 and 423 g lactose/kg DM from 60-70 to 190-200 kg BW. Responses of insulin and glucose to milk replacer intake and orally administered glucose and pre- and postprandial glucose responses to i.v. infused glucose and i.v. injected insulin were tested at 75-105 and 160-200 kg BW. Urine was collected during 24h to determine glucose, galactose, dopamine, noradrenaline, and creatinine excretion. Insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia, glucosuria, and galactosuria developed with increasing age and occurred primarily postprandially. High lactose intake enhanced postprandial hyperglycemia but did not significantly increase glucosuria, galactosuria, and hyperinsulinemia. Based on urinary excretion of dopamine and noradrenaline there was a marked age-dependent increase in the activity of the sympathetic nervous system, which was not modified by lactose intake. high feeding intensity and lactose intake, excessive hyperinsulinemia per se and enhanced activity of the sympathetic nervous system possibly contributed to the development of insulin resistance. Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, growth hormone and cortisol concentrations, and iron intake were low and comparable in both groups and therefore were etiologically not involved in the development of insulin resistance. Increasing circulating concentrations of insulin-like growth factor I during growth may have in part allowed high growth rates in the presence of insulin resistance.