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Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2019; 127(08): 505-510
DOI: 10.1055/a-0597-8985
Article
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

The Effect of the Oral Administration of Leucine on Endothelial Function, Glucose and Insulin Concentrations in Healthy Subjects

Georgia Argyrakopoulou
1   First Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laiko General Hospital, Athens, Greece
,
Paraskevi Kontrafouri
1   First Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laiko General Hospital, Athens, Greece
,
Ioanna Eleftheriadou
1   First Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laiko General Hospital, Athens, Greece
,
Alexander Kokkinos
1   First Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laiko General Hospital, Athens, Greece
,
Christina Arapostathi
1   First Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laiko General Hospital, Athens, Greece
,
Despoina Kyriaki   †
1   First Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laiko General Hospital, Athens, Greece
,
Despoina Perrea
2   Laboratory of Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
,
Constantinos Revenas
3   Department of Radiology, Laiko General Hospital, Athens, Greece
,
Nicholas Katsilambros
1   First Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laiko General Hospital, Athens, Greece
,
Nicholas Tentolouris
1   First Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laiko General Hospital, Athens, Greece
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 05 December 2017
revised 18 March 2018

accepted 26 March 2018

Publication Date:
11 June 2018 (online)

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Abstract

Objective The aim of our study was to investigate the potential differential effect of hyperglycaemia and hyperinsulinaemia induced by glucose infusion alone and in combination with leucine consumption on endothelial function in healthy individuals.

Methods Ten male volunteers were examined in random order twice. In one visit, they consumed 250 ml water (baseline) and 30 min later glucose was infused iv. In the other visit, they consumed 250 ml water with 25 g of leucine and 30 min later the same amount of glucose was infused. Serum glucose and insulin were measured at baseline and every 10 min after glucose infusion for 1 h. Endothelial function was evaluated by measurement of flow mediated vasodilatation (FMD) at baseline, 10 and 60 min after glucose infusion.

Results In both visits, glucose levels increased to the same degree, whereas insulin response was significantly higher after leucine administration. FMD values declined significantly compared to baseline 10 min after glucose infusion in the control visit (6.9±2.7 vs. 3.2±3.5%, respectively, p=0.006), while no significant change was observed when glucose infusion was followed by leucine consumption.

Conclusions Acute hyperglycaemia impairs endothelial function in healthy male individuals. Leucine administration prevents hyperglycaemia-mediated endothelial dysfunction probably due to enhanced insulin secretion.

Key words

Hyperinsulinaemia - hyperglycaemia - endothelial dysfunction - flow-mediated dilatation

† Deceased


 

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