Treatment with artificial beta-cell decreases very-low-density lipoprotein triglyceride synthesis in type I diabetes

The effect of restoration of euglycemia with the artificial beta-cell (Biostator GCIIS) on triglyceride metabolism was studied in seven normolipidemic patients with type I diabetes mellitus. Very-low-density lipoprotein triglyceride (VLDL-TG) transport was determined with [3H]glycerol as an endogenous precursor of VLDL-TG; the resultant kinetic data were evaluated by multicompartmental analysis. Studies of triglyceride metabolism were performed in diabetic patients taking their usual dose of subcutaneous insulin (control study) and after 72 h of euglycemia with the artificial beta-cell (Biostator study). Treatment with the artificial beta-cell resulted in a decrease in mean (+/- SE) 24-h plasma glucose levels from 199 +/- 9 to 123 +/- 7 mg/dl and an increase in mean plasma free-insulin levels from 12.3 +/- 1.9 to 27.6 +/- 4.2 microU/ml (P less than .05). These changes were accompanied by a decrease in mean plasma TG levels from 134 +/- 29 to 88 +/- 15 mg/dl (P less than .05). Kinetic studies demonstrated that the change in plasma triglyceride levels was primarily due to a decrease in VLDL-TG transport (i.e., synthesis), which fell from 11.7 +/- 2.5 mg X h-1 X kg-1 ideal wt during the control study to 7.5 +/- 2.0 mg X h-1 X kg-1 ideal wt during the Biostator study (P less than .05). There was no significant change in fractional catabolic rates of VLDL-TG between the two studies (0.35 +/- .05 vs. 0.38 +/- .07 h-1).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)