[Catecholamines: pro and contra]. / Katecholamine: Pro und Kontra.

BACKGROUND: Catecholamines with vasopressor and inotropic effects are commonly used in intensive care medicine. The aim of this review is to explain some of the physiologic actions on which a catecholamine therapy is based, but also to elucidate the risks which are associated with an uncritical and excessive use of these drugs. SIDE EFFECTS: Emphasis is placed on the myocardial damage triggered by adrenergic overstimulation. There is considerable evidence that in conditions of severe heart failure, myocardial ischemia as well as cardiogenic and septic shock especially the use of catecholamines with predominant ß-adrenergic effects (epinephrine, dobutamine, dopamine) can have a negative clinical impact. A simple cardiac risk marker might be a tachycardia. ADMINISTRATION: Vasopressor therapy with norepinephrine, based on individually applied perfusion parameters (e.g., urine output, lactate), however, seems justified in many conditions of shock and hemodynamic instability during deep analgosedation. In terms of a cardioprotective therapy, the administration of catecholamines, however, should always be reevaluated and titrated to the minimum deemed necessary.

[Hypercalcemic crisis in intensive care]. / Die hyperkalzämische Krise in der Intensivmedizin.

A hypercalcemic crisis is a life-threatening disease with multiorgan failure due to severe hypercalcemia. If left untreated, a hypercalcemic crisis is associated with a very high mortality and requires immediate diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. Especially a rapid rise to high calcium levels impairs the function of several organ systems and leads to central nervous, renal, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal symptoms. A hypercalcemic crisis is caused in more than 90 % by malignancy or primary hyperparathyreoidism and only in very rare cases by other diseases such as granulomatous diseases or other endocrinological diseases. Causal therapeutic options include an adequate treatment of malignancy and a surgical resection of the adenomatous tissue in primary hyperparathyreoidism. In addition, an adequate supportive therapy to lower calcium levels should be initiated as soon as possible. Rehydration with normal saline is the mainstay of therapy. Additional pharmacological therapies include biphosphonates, loop diuretics, calcitonin, steroids and calcimimetics. Besides classic hemodialysis continous renal replacement therapy with citrate anticoagulation is new therapeutical approach that can be used for the acute reduction of elevated serum calcium levels.

High cerebral insulin sensitivity is associated with loss of body fat during lifestyle intervention.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Loss of weight and body fat are major targets in lifestyle interventions to prevent diabetes. In the brain, insulin modulates eating behaviour and weight control, resulting in a negative energy balance. This study aimed to test whether cerebral insulin sensitivity facilitates reduction of body weight and body fat by lifestyle intervention in humans. METHODS: The study was performed as an additional arm of the TUebingen Lifestyle Intervention Program (TULIP). In 28 non-diabetic individuals (14 female/14 male; mean ± SE age 42 ± 2 years; mean ± SE BMI 29.9 ± 0.8 kg/m²), we measured cerebrocortical insulin sensitivity by using magnetoencephalography before lifestyle intervention. Total and visceral fat were measured by using MRI at baseline and after 9 months and 2 years of lifestyle intervention. RESULTS: Insulin-stimulated cerebrocortical theta activity at baseline correlated with a reduction in total adipose tissue (r = -0.59, p = 0.014) and visceral adipose tissue (r = -0.76, p = 0.001) after 9 months of lifestyle intervention, accompanied by a statistical trend for reduction in body weight change (r = -0.37, p = 0.069). Similar results were obtained after 2 years. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Our results suggest that high insulin sensitivity of the human brain facilitates loss of body weight and body fat during lifestyle intervention.

A polymorphism in the gene encoding AdipoR1 affects olfactory recognition.

Polymorphisms in the gene encoding adiponectin receptor 1 (AdipoR1) are associated with insulin resistance, fatty liver, increased risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. AdipoR1 is expressed in the central nervous system and in the olfactory mucosa of mice and humans. We therefore hypothesized that a common polymorphism in AdipoR1 might alter olfactory function. We investigated a group of 222 healthy subjects (male: n = 147, female: n = 75) for olfactory recognition, and genotyped them for the polymorphism rs6666089 in the human AdipoR1 gene. This polymorphism has been previously shown to be associated with insulin resistance. Olfactory recognition was tested using standardized sniffing sticks, and parameters of glucose metabolism and serum adiponectin levels were assessed. We found a significant olfactory impairment in carriers of the AdipoR1 polymorphism rs6666089 (olfactory recognition: GG: 89.4 ± 1.2%, GA: 86.9 ± 1.4%, AA: 77.2 ± 4.8%, additive model, P = 0.0004, adjusted for age). Adiponectin levels had no impact on olfactory recognition. Fasting plasma glucose, fasting plasma insulin, body mass index and HbA1c did not differ between the genotype groups. In conclusion, the presence of a genetic variation in AdipoR1 is associated with decreased olfactory recognition in healthy subjects. Adiponectin signalling may have an important role in olfactory function and regulation of appetite.

Insulin-mediated cortical activity in the slow frequency range is diminished in obese mice and promotes physical inactivity.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: There is evidence from mouse models and humans that alterations in insulin action in the brain are accompanied by an obese phenotype; however, the impact of insulin with regard to behavioural aspects such as locomotion is unknown. METHODS: To address insulin action in the brain with regard to cortical activity in distinct frequency bands and the behavioural consequences, the insulin signalling pathway was followed from the receptor to electrical activity and locomotion. Western blot analysis, electrocorticograms with intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) application of insulin, and measurements of locomotor activity were performed in lean and obese, as well as Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2/4-deficient, mice. RESULTS: We show that insulin application i.c.v. into lean mice was accompanied by a profound increase in cortical activity in the slow frequency range, while diet-induced obese mice displayed insulin resistance. In parallel, insulin administered i.c.v. increased locomotor activity in lean mice, whereas a phosphatidylinositol-3 (PI3) kinase inhibitor or obesity abolished insulin-mediated locomotion. A potential candidate that links insulin signalling to locomotion is the Kv1.3 channel that is activated by PI3-kinase. Pharmacological inhibition of Kv1.3 channels that bypassed insulin receptor activation promoted activity. Moreover, mice deficient in TLR2/4-dependent signalling displayed an increase in cortical activity in the slow frequency range that was correlated with improved spontaneous and insulin-mediated locomotor activity. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Our data provide functional evidence for a direct effect of insulin on brain activation patterns in the slow frequency bands and locomotor activity in lean mice, while in obese mice, insulin-mediated locomotion is blunted and further aggravates physical inactivity.

Insulin detemir causes increased symptom awareness during hypoglycaemia compared to human insulin.

AIM: The long-acting insulin analogue detemir (Levemir) has structural and physicochemical properties which differ from human insulin. The aim of the present study was to test whether this leads to altered hormone and symptom response during hypoglycaemia. METHODS: 12 healthy subjects [6f/6m, age 32 +/- 6 years (mean +/- s.d.), body mass index (BMI) 24.2 +/- 2.5 kg/m(2)] underwent a 200-min stepwise hypoglycaemic clamp (45 min steps of 4.4, 3.7, 3.0 and 2.3 mmol/l) with either detemir or human insulin in random order. A bolus of detemir (660 mU/kg) or human insulin (60 mU/kg) was given before insulin was infused at a rate of 5 (detemir) or 2 (human insulin) mU/kg/min. Blood was drawn and a semi-quantitative symptom questionnaire was administered before and after each plateau of the hypoglycaemic clamp. Cognitive function was assessed during each step. RESULTS: Blood glucose levels and glucose infusion rates were comparable with detemir and human insulin. The total symptom score was higher with detemir during the 3 and 2.3 mmol glucose step compared to human insulin (p = 0.048). Especially sweating was increased with detemir (p = 0.02) with an earlier and faster increase during the clamp (interaction insulin x time: p = 0.04). No significant differences between detemir and human insulin in cortisol, norepinephrine, epinephrine, glucagon, growth hormone, lactate or free fatty acid (FFA) levels during hypoglycaemia were observed, and there were no significant differences in cognitive function tests. CONCLUSIONS: Insulin detemir increased symptom awareness during hypoglycaemia compared to human insulin in healthy individuals, whereas counter-regulatory hormone response and cognitive function were unaltered.

Variation in the FTO gene influences food intake but not energy expenditure.

Polymorphisms in the FTO (fat mass- and obesity-associated) gene are associated with obesity. The mechanisms how genetic variation in this gene influences body weight are unknown. Body weight is determined by energy intake/storage and energy expenditure. In this study, we investigated whether genetic variation in FTO influences energy expenditure or food intake in carefully phenotyped subjects. In 380 German subjects, insulin sensitivity was measured by a hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp. Lean body mass and body fat were quantified using the bioimpedance method. Indirect calorimetry was used to estimate the metabolic rate. Food intake was assessed using food diaries (mean 11+/-1 d) in 151 subjects participating in a lifestyle intervention program to prevent diabetes. All subjects were genotyped for the FTO single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs8050136. The risk allele of SNP rs8050136 was associated with higher body fat-related parameters (all p< or =0.04, additive inheritance model). Energy expenditure was not affected by the SNP. However, the risk allele of rs8050136 was significantly associated with higher energy intake (p=0.01, dominant inheritance model) during dietary restriction. Our data suggest that the increased body weight in carriers of the risk allele of FTO SNP rs8050136 is a consequence of increased food intake, but not of impaired energy expenditure.

Polymorphisms in the TCF7L2, CDKAL1 and SLC30A8 genes are associated with impaired proinsulin conversion.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Variation within six novel genetic loci has been reported to confer risk of type 2 diabetes and may be associated with beta cell dysfunction. We investigated whether these polymorphisms are also associated with impaired proinsulin to insulin conversion. METHODS: We genotyped 1,065 German participants for single nucleotide polymorphisms rs7903146 in TCF7L2, rs7754840 in CDKAL1, rs7923837 and rs1111875 in HHEX, rs13266634 in SLC30A8, rs10811661 in CDKN2A/B and rs4402960 in IGF2BP2. All participants underwent an OGTT. Insulin, proinsulin and C-peptide concentrations were measured at 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min during the OGTT. Insulin secretion was estimated from C-peptide or insulin levels during the OGTT using validated indices. We used the ratio proinsulin/insulin during the OGTT as indicator of proinsulin conversion. RESULTS: In our cohort, we confirmed the significant association of variants in TCF7L2, CDKAL1 and HHEX with reduced insulin secretion during the OGTT (p<0.05 for all). Variation in SLC30A8, CDKN2A/B and IGF2BP2 was not associated with insulin secretion. The risk alleles of the variants in TCF7L2, CDKAL1 and SLC30A8 reduced proinsulin to insulin conversion (p<0.05 for all), whereas the risk alleles in HHEX, CDKN2A/B and IGF2BP2 were not associated with reduced proinsulin to insulin conversion (p>0.6). CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Diabetes-associated variants in TCF7L2 and CDKAL1 impair insulin secretion and conversion of proinsulin to insulin. However, both aspects of beta cell function are not necessarily linked, as impaired insulin secretion is specifically present in variants of HHEX and impaired proinsulin conversion is specifically present in a variant of SLC30A8.

Endothelial NO-synthase intron 4 polymorphism is associated with disturbed in vivo nitric oxide production in individuals prone to type 2 diabetes.

Insulin resistance, as well as vascular disease, both share a relevant genetic background taking the influence of a positive family history of these disorders. On the other hand, insulin resistance is associated with a proatherosclerotic disturbance in nitric oxide dependent vasodilation, probably contributing to the link between these two disorders. We examined the association between nitric oxide dependent vasodilation (measured with high resolution ultrasound at 13 MHz) and three relevant NO-synthase (eNOS)-polymorphisms in 200 insulin resistant subjects participating in the Tuebinger Lifestyle Intervention Program (TULIP). This study revealed that carriers of the eNOS intron 4 polymorphism (aa 2.16%; ab 24.2%; bb 73.2%) show significantly worse endothelial, and thereby eNOS dependent vasodilation (p=0.03, multivariate ANOVA), as compared to wildtype carriers. The 5' UTR T-786C and the G894 T polymorphism did not show any influence on eNOS-activity. In subjects at increased risk to develop type 2 diabetes, the eNOS intron 4 polymorphism is independently associated with endothelial function as indicated by disturbed endothelial NO production. Due to the high prevalence and the relatively strong effect, this polymorphism might help to identify subjects at increased risk for atherosclerosis associated with overweight and insulin resistance.

Impaired glucagon-like peptide-1-induced insulin secretion in carriers of transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) gene polymorphisms.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Polymorphisms in the transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) gene are associated with type 2 diabetes and reduced insulin secretion. The transcription factor TCF7L2 is an essential factor for glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) secretion from intestinal L cells. We studied whether a defect in the enteroinsular axis contributes to impaired insulin secretion in carriers of TCF7L2 polymorphisms. METHODS: We genotyped 1,110 non-diabetic German participants for five single nucleotide polymorphisms in TCF7L2. All participants underwent an OGTT; GLP-1 secretion was measured in 155 participants. In 210 participants, an IVGTT combined with a hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp was performed. In another 160 participants from the Netherlands and 73 from Germany, a hyperglycaemic clamp (10 mmol/l) was performed. In 73 German participants this clamp was combined with a GLP-1 infusion and an arginine bolus. RESULTS: The OGTT data confirmed that variants in TCF7L2 are associated with reduced insulin secretion. In contrast, insulin secretion induced by an i.v. glucose challenge in the IVGTT and hyperglycaemic clamp was not different between the genotypes. GLP-1 concentrations during the OGTT were not influenced by the TCF7L2 variants. However, GLP-1-infusion combined with a hyperglycaemic clamp showed a significant reduction in GLP-1-induced insulin secretion in carriers of the risk allele in two variants (rs7903146, rs12255372, p < 0.02). CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Variants of TCF7L2 specifically impair GLP-1-induced insulin secretion. This seems to be rather the result of a functional defect in the GLP-1 signalling in beta cells than a reduction in GLP-1 secretion. This defect might explain the impaired insulin secretion in carriers of the risk alleles and confers the increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

Beta cell function, insulin resistance and plasma adiponectin concentrations are predictors for the change of postprandial glucose in non-diabetic subjects at risk for type 2 diabetes.

Insulin resistance, impaired insulin secretion, and low adiponectin levels have been shown to be predictors for type 2 diabetes. However, it is not yet clear whether these associations (1) are independent of changes in body weight, or (2) are valid for changes in glucose tolerance in the prediabetic state. Sixty-two non-diabetics (50 with normal glucose tolerance) aged 41 +/- 11 years, BMI 30.5 +/- 5.3 kg/m2 (mean +/- SD) were studied twice with a standard oral glucose tolerance test (oGTT, mean follow-up time 3.0 +/- 1.8 years (mean +/- SD) [range 0.5-6.5 years]). Insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion were estimated from oGTT using validated indices. Two-hour blood glucose during oGTT deteriorated over time (baseline 2 h glucose 6.32 +/- 0.21 VS. follow-up 2 h glucose 7.14 +/- 0.22 mM, p < 0.001) while the percentage body fat did not change (32.7 +/- 1.2 VS. 32.6 +/- 1.2%, p = 0.46). Follow-up 2 h blood glucose was predicted by adiponectin (p = 0.01), baseline insulin sensitivity (p = 0.02) and baseline insulin secretion relative to insulin sensitivity (p = 0.03) independent of sex, age, baseline 2 h blood glucose or change in percentage body fat. Our results suggest that low adiponectin levels, insulin resistance and low beta cell function predict the continuous deterioration of glucose tolerance in early prediabetic states, independent of changes in adiposity. Therefore, the early influence of these parameters should be the subject of future prevention programs to prevent deterioration of glucose tolerance.

Tissue selectivity of insulin detemir action in vivo.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Recombinant DNA technology is a useful tool that can be used to create insulin analogues with modified absorption kinetics to improve glycaemic control in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Among conventional insulin analogues, which are usually created by amino acid exchange, insulin detemir is the first analogue to be acylated with a fatty acid to enable reversible albumin binding. In this study we determined activation of the insulin receptor (IR)-signalling cascade by insulin detemir at the level of IR and IR substrate (Irs) phosphorylation, as well as downstream signalling elements such as phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and Akt, and performed epidural EEG in vivo. METHODS: C57Bl/6 mice were injected i.v. with either insulin detemir or human insulin and Western blot analysis was performed on liver, muscle, hypothalamic and cerebrocortical tissues. Moreover, cerebrocortical activity was detected by EEG in awake mice and cerebral insulin concentrations were measured following human insulin and insulin detemir injection. RESULTS: The time course and extent of IR phosphorylation in peripheral tissues were similar following insulin detemir treatment compared with human insulin, but insulin signalling in hypothalamic and cerebrocortical tissue determined by tyrosine-phosphorylation of the IR and Irs2 proteins occurred faster and was enhanced due to a higher insulin detemir concentration in the brain. Moreover, epidural EEG in mice displayed increased cortical activity using insulin detemir. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Taken together, these data suggest that insulin detemir has a tissue-selective action, with a relative preference for brain compared with peripheral tissues.

Association of serum phosphate levels with glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion in non-diabetic subjects.

BACKGROUND: Hypophosphatemia is associated with impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance in primary hyperparathyroidism. However, little is known about the association between serum phosphate and glucose metabolism in healthy subjects. METHODS: We measured fasting serum phosphate levels (SP, normal range 2.6-4.5 mg/dl) and serum calcium (S-Ca, normal range 2.1-2.6 mmol/l) in 881 non-diabetic subjects (341 male/540 female, age: 38+/-1 years, body mass index 25.9+/-0.2 kg/m(2) (mean+/-standard error of the mean). An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) with determination of glucose and insulin every 30 min was performed in all subjects. Insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity (IS) were estimated from the OGTT using validated indices. Furthermore, we tested whether serum phosphate predicts glucose tolerance in 115 subjects during a lifestyle intervention program (LIP). RESULTS: Serum phosphate was negatively correlated with 2-h blood glucose levels independent of age, gender and percent body fat (r=-0.13, P<0.0001). This association remained significant after additional adjustment for S-Ca, creatinine and parathyroid hormone. Serum phosphate was positively correlated with IS (r=0.10, P=0.0006), but not with insulin secretion. This was independent of age, gender, percent body fat, S-Ca and serum creatinine. In the subjects taking part in the LIP low serum phosphate levels at baseline were associated with higher postprandial glucose levels. CONCLUSIONS: In non-diabetic subjects, low serum phosphate levels are associated with high 2-h blood glucose levels and reduced IS. Whether low serum phosphate levels are a cause or a consequence of low IS and impairment of glucose tolerance needs to be tested in further studies.

Polymorphisms in the gene encoding adiponectin receptor 1 are associated with insulin resistance and high liver fat.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: The adipokine adiponectin has insulin-sensitising, anti-atherogenic and anti-inflammatory properties. Recently, the genes for mouse and human adiponectin receptor-1 (ADIPOR1) and -2 (ADIPOR2) have been cloned. The aim of this study was to investigate whether genetic variants of the genes encoding ADIPOR1 and ADIPOR2 play a role in human metabolism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We screened ADIPOR1 and ADIPOR2 for polymorphisms and determined their association with glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, an atherogenic lipid profile and inflammatory markers in 502 non-diabetic subjects. A subgroup participated in a longitudinal study; these subjects received diet counselling and increased their physical activity. RESULTS: We identified six variants of ADIPOR1 and seven variants of ADIPOR2. A single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the putative promoter region 8503 bp upstream of the translational start codon (-8503 G/A) of ADIPOR1 (frequency of allele A=0.31) was in almost complete linkage disequilibrium with another SNP (-1927 T/C) in intron 1. Subjects carrying the -8503 A and -1927 C alleles had lower insulin sensitivity, as estimated from a 75 g OGTT (p=0.04) and determined during a euglycaemic clamp (n=295, p=0.04); they also had higher HbA(1)c levels (p=0.02) and, although the difference was not statistically significant, higher liver fat (n=85, determined by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, p=0.056) (all p values are adjusted for age, sex and percentage of body fat). In the longitudinal study (n=45), the -8503 A and -1927 C alleles were associated with lower insulin sensitivity (p=0.03) and higher liver fat (p=0.02) at follow-up compared with the -8503 G and -1927 T alleles, independently of basal measurements, sex and baseline and follow-up percentage of body fat. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: The present findings suggest that the -8503 G/A SNP in the promoter or the -1927 T/C SNP in intron 1 of ADIPOR1 may affect insulin sensitivity and liver fat in humans.

Genetic determinants of insulin action in polycystic ovary syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Insulin resistance is associated with both type 2 diabetes (T2 D) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). There is an association of T2 D with several polymorphisms in candidate genes related to insulin resistance. However, there is limited information about the association of these polymorphisms with PCOS. METHODS: 57 non-diabetic women with PCOS and a control group of 567 healthy non-diabetic women underwent an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). They were genotyped for the polymorphisms Gly972Arg in IRS-1, Gly1057Asp in IRS-2, SNP 43, 44, and 45 in CAPN10, Pro12Ala in PPAR(gamma)2, C-512 T in FOXC2, and T45 G in adiponectin. RESULTS: Women with PCOS had higher 2-h blood glucose levels (6.5 +/- 0.2 vs. 6.0 +/- 0.06 mmol/l, p = 0.03) compared to control women, higher fasting insulin (79 +/- 7 vs. 53 +/- 2 pmol/l, p = 0.02), and a lower insulin sensitivity estimated from the OGTT (12.4 +/- 1.1 vs. 19.1 +/- 0.5 U, p = 0.0001). More homozygous G allele carriers of the T45 G polymorphism in the adiponectin gene were found in women with PCOS compared to controls (13.2 % vs. 2.6 %, p = 0.008). In women with PCOS, G-allele carriers had lower fasting insulin levels than TT carriers (61 +/- 9 vs. 88 +/- 10, p = 0.02) in contrast to controls (p = 0.03 for interaction genotype x PCOS). The other polymorphisms were distributed equally among women with PCOS and controls (all p > 0.5). SUMMARY: We found a higher prevalence of the T45 G polymorphism in the adiponectin gene in women with PCOS compared to controls. This was not associated with a more insulin resistant phenotype in PCOS, however. Other frequent polymorphisms in genes related to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes showed no association with PCOS.

Elevated serum GGT concentrations predict reduced insulin sensitivity and increased intrahepatic lipids.

Elevated serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) concentrations have been related to features of the metabolic syndrome as well as increased risk of cardiovascular and liver disease. More recently, elevated GGT levels were shown to predict development of type 2 diabetes in a longitudinal study from Korea. The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that serum GGT is associated with glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function in a healthy, non-diabetic Caucasian population from the Tübingen family study. Insulin sensitivity was estimated by oGTT (n = 850) or measured by hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp (n = 245), respectively. A subgroup (n = 70) underwent additional determination of intrahepatic lipid content using 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Serum GGT was positively correlated with two-hour glucose during oGTT (r = 0.15, p < 0.0001) and negatively correlated with insulin sensitivity from oGTT (r = -0.31, p < 0.0001) and clamp (r = -0.27, p < 0.0001). The relationship between GGT and insulin sensitivity remained significant after adjusting for sex, age, BMI, and AST using multivariate regression analysis. Inclusion of serum triglyceride levels as a parameter of lipid metabolism kept the relationship significant in the oGTT group (p < 0.0001), but not in the smaller clamp group (p = 0.11). Additionally, serum GGT was positively correlated with hepatic lipid content (r = 0.49, p < 0.001) independent of sex, age, BMI, AST or serum triglycerides. There was no significant correlation between GGT and the index for beta-cell function after adjusting for age, sex, BMI and insulin sensitivity (p = 0.74). In conclusion, elevated serum GGT levels predict glucose intolerance probably via insulin resistance rather than beta-cell dysfunction. This may be primarily related to hepatic insulin resistance and increased intrahepatic lipids. The association observed between elevated hepatic lipids and reduced insulin sensitivity might explain the increased diabetes risk observed in subjects with elevated serum GGT concentrations. In the absence of overt liver disease, elevated serum GGT concentrations may point the clinician to incipient disturbances in the glucose metabolism.

Serum adiponectin levels predict the effect of short-term dietary interventions on insulin sensitivity in humans.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Fat-rich diets can acutely induce insulin resistance. Data from adiponectin knock-out mice suggest that this effect might be increased in the absence of adiponectin. In the present study we tested whether plasma adiponectin concentrations influence changes in insulin sensitivity induced by a short-term dietary intervention in humans. METHODS: We analysed data from 27 healthy, non-obese men with normal glucose tolerance. These men ate a diet high in fat and a diet high in carbohydrates for three days each. RESULTS: The high-fat diet induced a significant drop in insulin sensitivity (determined by euglycaemic-hyperinsulinaemic clamp) compared to baseline (0.100+/-0.009 vs 0.083+/-0.007 micro mol.kg(-1).min(-1).(pmol.l(-1)), p=0.01). The drop in insulin sensitivity was more pronounced in subjects with low serum adiponectin (0.094+/-0.011 vs 0.077+/-0.010 micro mol.kg(-1).min(-1).(pmol.l(-1)), p=0.02) than in subjects with high serum adiponectin (0.103+/-0.011 vs 0.090+/-0.040 micro mol.kg(-1).min(-1).(pmol.l(-1)), p=0.16). In the whole group the high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet did not cause an increase in insulin sensitivity (0.095+/-0.007 vs 0.102+/-0.009 micro mol.kg(-1).min(-1).(pmol.l(-1)), p=0.06). However, insulin sensitivity was significantly increased in the subgroup with low serum adiponectin levels (0.084+/-0.013 vs 0.099+/-0.018 micro mol.kg(-1).min(-1).(pmol.l(-1)), p=0.01). In an additional multivariate analysis post-intervention insulin sensitivity was predicted by pre-intervention insulin sensitivity ( p<0.001) and adiponectin concentrations ( p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: These data indicate that the reduction in insulin sensitivity achieved by a short-term high-fat diet is more pronounced in non-obese subjects with low serum adiponectin. Thus it is possible that the restriction of dietary fat and a diet high in carbohydrates might be particularly effective in subjects with low adiponectin such as obese or Type 2 diabetic individuals.