Effects of Acute and Chronic Attenuation of Postprandial Hyperglycemia on Postglucose-load Endothelial Function in Insulin Resistant Individuals: Is Stimulation of First Phase Insulin Secretion Beneficial for the Endothelial Function?

The aim of the study is to determine if attenuation of postprandial hyperglycemia, by acutely and chronically enhancing postprandial insulin secretion in insulin-resistant individuals, improves the endothelial dysfunction. We assessed postoral glucose-load endothelial function in 56 insulin-resistant subjects with the Flow-Mediated-Dilation (FMD) technique. We randomized subjects to intervention/control group, and examined the acute and chronic effect of nateglinide, an oral antidiabetic drug of rapid action. In the intervention group, postoral glucose-load (post-OGL) FMD delta values deteriorated when compared to pre-OGL values, most significantly at 3 h post-OGL, on the following days: on the first study day termed "Baseline day" (p=0.04); on both days after 3 months of nateglinide treatment [with nateglinide administered on study-day "acute+chronic" (p=0.01); and without nateglinide on study-day "Closing day", p=0.001]. Post-OGL changes in the control group were nonsignificant both at Baseline and on Closing day. After a single dose of nateglinide "Acute day", post-OGL FMD deterioration was abolished. There was an increment in post-OGL FMD delta values most significant at 2 h post-OGL (p=0.02). Insulin concentrations increased while glucose concentrations decreased on study-days with nateglinide when compared to study-days without (p=<0.001 for both insulin and glucose). Comparisons for insulin and glucose concentrations between days with nateglinide, and likewise between days without, showed no significant difference. Postglucose load endothelial dysfunction can be prevented by administration of nateglinide, however, after 3 months of nateglinide treatment, this effect is abolished. Chronically increased insulin secretion could counteract the initial beneficial effect of reduced glucose excursions. We found no relationship between postprandial hyperglycemia and post-OGL FMD.