Effects of intraduodenal glutamine on incretin hormone and insulin release, the glycemic response to an intraduodenal glucose infusion, and antropyloroduodenal motility in health and type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE

Glutamine reduces postprandial glycemia when given before oral glucose. We evaluated whether this is mediated by stimulation of insulin and/or slowing of gastric emptying.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND

METHODS

Ten healthy subjects were studied during intraduodenal (ID) infusion of glutamine (7.5 or 15 g) or saline over 30 min, followed by glucose (75 g over 100 min), while recording antropyloroduodenal pressures. Ten patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were also studied with 15 g glutamine or saline.

RESULTS

ID glutamine stimulated glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1; healthy: P < 0.05; T2DM: P < 0.05), glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP; P = 0.098; P < 0.05), glucagon (P < 0.01; P < 0.001), insulin (P = 0.05; P < 0.01), and phasic pyloric pressures (P < 0.05; P < 0.05), but did not lower blood glucose (P = 0.077; P = 0.5).

CONCLUSIONS

Glutamine does not lower glycemia after ID glucose, despite stimulating GLP-1, GIP, and insulin, probably due to increased glucagon. Its capacity for pyloric stimulation suggests that delayed gastric emptying is a major mechanism for lowering glycemia when glutamine is given before oral glucose.