Hepatic nonoxidative disposal of an oral glucose meal in patients with liver cirrhosis

• Published in: Metabolism, clinical and experimental Vol. 48; no. 10; pp. 1260 - 1266
• Main Authors: Schneiter, Philippe, Gillet, Michel, Chioléro, René, Jéquier, Eric, Tappy, Luc
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.10.1999; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Carbon Isotopes; Eating; Female; Galactose - metabolism; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Glucose - metabolism; Glucose Intolerance - etiology; Glucose Intolerance - physiopathology; Humans; Hyperglycemia - etiology; Hyperglycemia - metabolism; Intestinal Absorption; Liver - metabolism; Liver Cirrhosis - etiology; Liver Cirrhosis - metabolism; Liver Glycogen - biosynthesis; Liver. Biliary tract. Portal circulation. Exocrine pancreas; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Other diseases. Semiology; Postprandial Period; Prothrombin Time; Reference Values; Uridine Diphosphate Glucose - metabolism; Switzerland; Europe; Endocrinopathy; Human; Pathogenesis; Liver; Hepatic disease; Glucose; Metabolism; Cirrhosis; Food intake; Digestive diseases; Adult; Complication; Impaired glucose tolerance; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0026-0495; 1532-8600
• DOI: 10.1016/S0026-0495(99)90265-2

Seven patients with liver cirrhosis and five healthy subjects were studied over 4 hours after ingestion of a glucose meal to determine whether alterations of hepatic nonoxidative glucose disposal participate in the pathogenesis of impaired glucose tolerance. Hepatic uridyl-diphosphoglucose (UDPG) turnover was calculated from the isotopic enrichment of urinary acetaminophen glucuronide during continuous infusion of 13C-galactose and used as an index of hepatic glycogen synthesis. Patients with cirrhosis had postprandial hyperglycemia and decreased glucose clearance, but hepatic UDPG turnover was not altered (1.84 ± 0.29 mg/kg fat-free mass · min v 1.76 ± 0.15 in controls, nonsignificant). It is concluded that hepatic postprandial glycogen synthesis is unaltered in patients with advanced cirrhosis, demonstrating important hepatic functional reserve.