Increased Levels of Plasma Insulin and Eleven Hydroxycorticosteroid Induced by Sucrose, and their Reduction by Phenformin

Abstract

Eleven subjects who had previously been shown to develop a high level of immuno-reactive insulin after a diet high in sucrose were again put on to this diet for 4 weeks. After 2 weeks, some of the subjects were given phenformin, and the remainder given placebo tablets; a week later, the treatments were reversed. As we had found previously, the high sucrose diet produced an increase in body weight in these subjects, raised the level of plasma triglyceride and cholesterol, and increased platelet adhesiveness. It had no effect on clot lysis but appeared to reduce the content of plasma fibrinogen. In addition, there was an increase in the level of immuno-reactive insulin in fasting plasma of about 30% and a much greater increase of 300% or 400% in the level of 11-OHcs in fasting plasma. Phenformin restored all these changed values towards normal. It also reduced clot lysis time and the level of plasma fibrinogen.

Key words

Immuno Reactive Insulin - Sucrose Diet - Phenformin - 11-Hydroxycorticosteroids