Low-dose iloprost infusion improves insulin action in aged healthy subjects and NIDDM patients.

Abstract

To investigate the effect of iloprost infusion on insulin action. Thirteen healthy subjects and 13 non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients matched for age (68.2 +/- 0.5 vs. 67.9 +/- 0.5 years, NS), gender ratio (7 men:6 women vs. 6 men:7 women), body weight, body fat distribution, arterial blood pressure, and plasma triglyceride levels (1.89 +/- 0.09 vs. 1.87 +/- 0.08 mmol/l, NS) were studied. In eight healthy subjects and eight NIDDM patients, we studied insulin action by euglycemic glucose clamp (insulin infusion rate 2 mU.kg-1.min-1) along with saline and iloprost delivery (0.7 ng.kg-1.min-1). In the other five subjects of each group, forearm blood flow and insulin-mediated glucose uptake during saline and iloprost infusion (0.7 ng.kg-1.min-1) were investigated. Iloprost infusion improved insulin-stimulated whole-body glucose uptake and oxidative and nonoxidative glucose metabolism in both study groups. Forearm blood flow under basal conditions and with insulin infusion (2 mU.kg-1.min-1) did not show any significant difference from that during saline and iloprost infusion (0.7 ng.kg-1.min-1) in healthy subjects and diabetic patients. Iloprost infusion improves insulin action in healthy subjects and NIDDM patients.