Effect of oral amino acids on counterregulatory responses and cognitive function during insulin-induced hypoglycemia in nondiabetic and type 1 diabetic people

Paolo Rossetti, Francesca Porcellati, Natalia Busciantella Ricci, Paola Candeloro, Patrizia Cioli, K. Sreekumaran Nair, Fausto Santeusanio, Geremia B. Bolli, Carmine G. Fanelli

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE-Amino acids stimulate glucagon responses to hypoglycemia and may be utilized by the brain. The aim of this study was to assess the responses to hypoglycemia in non- diabetic and type 1 diabetic subjects after ingestion of an amino acid mixture. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS-Ten nondiabetic and 10 diabetic type 1 subjects were studied on three different occasions during intravenous insulin (2 mU • kg -1 · min -1) plus variable glucose for 160 min. In two studies, clamped hypoglycemia (47 mg/dl plasma glucose for 40 min) was induced and either oral placebo or an amino acid mixture (42 g) was given at 30 min. In the third study, amino acids were given, but euglycemia was maintained. RESULTS-Plasma glucose and insulin were no different in the hypoglycemia studies with both placebo and amino acids (P > 0.2). After the amino acid mixture, plasma amino acid concentrations increased to levels observed after a mixed meal (2.4 ± 0.13 vs. placebo study 1.7 ± 0.1 mmol/l, P = 0.02). During clamped euglycemia, ingestion of amino acids resulted in transient increases in glucagon concentrations, which returned to basal by the end of the study. During clamped hypoglycemia, glucagon response was sustained and increased more in amino acid studies versus placebo in nondiabetic and diabetic subjects (P < 0.05), but other counter-regulatory hormones and total symptom score were not different. β-OH-butyrate was less suppressed after amino acids (200 ± 15 vs. 93 ± 9 μxmol/l, P = 0.01). Among the cognitive tests administered, the following indicated less deterioration after amino acids than placebo: Trail-Making part B, PASAT (Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test) (2 s), digit span forward, Stroop colored words, and verbal memory tests for nondiabetic subjects; and Trail-Making part B, digit span backward, and Stroop color tests for diabetic subjects. CONCLUSIONS-Oral amino acids improve cognitive function in response to hypoglycemia and enhance the response of glucagon in nondiabetic and diabetic subjects.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1905-1917
Number of pages13
JournalDiabetes
Volume57
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2008

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Internal Medicine
  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism

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