[Correlation between blood insulin response and blood potassium changes during oral glucose load (preliminary note)]. / Correlazioni tra riosposta insulinemica e modificazioni della kaliemia in corso di carico orale di glucosio (nota preliminare).

Glucose, insulin, K+ and Na+ serum levels were measured at fixed intervals during OGTT. Na+ showed no significant changes, while K+ progressively decreased from 0 to 240 min. A good correlation was found between kaliaemic lowest levels and insulin peak (p less than 0,01): the former followed the latter by 60-120 min. No correlation seemed to exist between nadir K+/basal K+ ratio and insulin peak. The results and their clinical implications are discussed.

[Influence of blood potassium variations on changes in electrocardiographic patterns during oral glucose tolerance test]. / Influenza delle variazioni kaliemiche sulle modificazioni eletrocardiografiche rilevate in corso di "test" di tolleranza al glucosio per via orale.

In 45 apparently healthy subjects an OGTT was performed and glucose, insulin, potassium and sodium were measured at fixed intervals. A standard EKG was recorded at the beginning and at the end of the trial. K+ levels steadily decreased reaching their lowest value 60 to 120 min after insulin peak. Na+ levels did not change. In those subjects whose final EKG showed some worsening, the ratio final to initial K+ levels, unlike glucose levels, significantly decreased (p less than 0,01). The hypothesis is given that many clinical pictures of coronary heart disease, so often encountered during OGTTs, may depend on K+, rather than glucose, unbalance.