Assessment of β-cell function in humans, simultaneously with insulin sensitivity and hepatic extraction, from intravenous and oral glucose tests

Claudio Cobelli, Gianna Maria Toffolo, Chiara Dalla Man, Marco Campioni, Paolo Denti, Andrea Caumo, Peter Butler, Robert Rizza

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

233 Scopus citations

Abstract

Assessment of insulin secretion in humans under physiological conditions has been a challenge because of its complex interplay with insulin action and hepatic insulin extraction. The possibility of simultaneously assessing β-cell function, insulin sensitivity, and hepatic insulin extraction under physiological conditions using a simple protocol is appealing, since it has the potential to provide novel insights regarding the regulation of fasting and postprandial glucose metabolism in diabetic and nondiabetic humans. In this Perspective, we review data indicating that an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) or a meal test is able to accomplish this goal when interpreted with the oral β-cell minimal model. We begin by using the well-established intravenous minimal model to highlight how the oral minimal model was developed and how the oral assessment parallels that of an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT). We also point out the unique aspects of both approaches in relation to their ability to assess different aspects of the β-cell secretory cascade. We review the ability of the oral model to concurrently measure insulin sensitivity and hepatic insulin extraction, thereby enabling it to quantitatively portray the complex relationship among β-cell function, hepatic insulin extraction, and insulin action. In addition, data from 204 individuals (54 young and 159 elderly) who underwent both IVGTT and meal tolerance tests are used to illustrate how these different approaches provide complementary but differing insights regarding the regulation of β-cell function in humans.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)E1-E15
JournalAmerican Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism
Volume293
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2007

Keywords

  • Disposition index
  • Glucose tolerance
  • Intravenous glucose tolerance test
  • Meal
  • Oral glucose tolerance test

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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