Effects of low-dose l-arginine on insulin-mediated vasodilatation and insulin sensitivity

• Published in: European journal of clinical investigation 1997-08, Vol.27 (8), p.690-695
• Main Authors: WASCHER, T. C., GRAIER, W. F., DITTRICH, P., HUSSAIN, M. A., BAHADORI, B., WALLNER, S., TOPLAK, H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Arginine - administration & dosage; Biological and medical sciences; C-Peptide - blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - drug therapy; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - physiopathology; endothelial dysfunction; Fatty Acids - blood; Female; Hormones. Endocrine system; Humans; Insulin - blood; Insulin Resistance; insulin sensitivity; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I - metabolism; insulin-mediated vasodilatation; l-Arginine; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Obesity - drug therapy; Obesity - physiopathology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Vasodilation - drug effects; Vasodilation - physiology
• ISSN: 0014-2972; 1365-2362
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2362.1997.1730718.x

The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of a low‐dose intravenous supplementation of l‐arginine on insulin‐mediated vasodilatation and insulin sensitivity. The study was performed in healthy subjects (n = 7) and patients with obesity (n = 9) and non‐insulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) (n = 9). Insulin‐mediated vasodilatation was measured by venous occlusion plethysmography during the insulin suppression test, evaluating insulin sensitivity. Experiments were performed twice in each subject in the presence or absence of a concomitant infusion of l‐arginine (0.52 mg kg−1 min−1). l‐Arginine restored the impaired insulin‐mediated vasodilatation observed in obesity (22.4 ± 4.1%, P