Mechanisms of the Age-Associated Deterioration in Glucose Tolerance

• DOI: 10.2337/diabetes.52.7.1738
• Publication Date: 2007-03-06T19:04:22Z
• Authors: Rita Basu; Elena Breda; Ann L. Oberg; Claudia C. Powell; Chiara Dalla Man; Ananda Basu; Janet L. Vittone; George G. Klee; Puneet Arora; Michael D. Jensen; Gianna Toffolo; Claudio Cobelli; Robert A. Rizza
• Keywords: Basal (medicine); Glucose tolerance test

Glucose tolerance decreases with age. For determining the cause of this decrease, 67 elderly and 21 young (70.1 ± 0.7 vs. 23.7 0.8 years) participants ingested a mixed meal received an intravenous injection glucose. Fasting glucose glycemic response above basal were higher in than after either ingestion (P < 0.001) or 0.01). Insulin action (Si), measured test models, was highly correlated (r = 0.72; P lower ≤ 0.002) participants. However, when adjusted for differences percentage body fat visceral fat, Si no longer differed between groups. When considered light degree insulin resistance, all indexes secretion 0.01) participants, indicating impaired β-cell function. Hepatic clearance increased 0.002), whereas total decreased subjects. Multivariate analysis 0.70; indicated that (Si) (Phitotal) but not age, peak oxygen uptake, fasting glucose, fatness, hepatic predicted postprandial response. We conclude deterioration occurs healthy subjects is due to decrease both severity defect being explained by fatness rather age per se.