Gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) responses after oral glucose ingestion in hyperthyroidism

Gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) is a gastrointestinal hormone stimulated after oral nutrient ingestion, but not after intravenous nutrient administration. GIP stimulates insulin release in the presence of hyperglycemia and as such is considered a major enteroinsular hormone. Since elevated glucose and insulin levels are found in hyperthyroidism, we compared the GIP responses to oral glucose ingestion in 12 hyperthyroid patients and 10 age-matched controls. Seventy-five grams of oral glucose was ingested after overnight fasting and samples were obtained at 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 180 min for serum glucose and immunoreactive insulin (IRI) and GIP (IRGIP). The mean serum glucose levels in hyperthyroid subjects were significantly higher (P less than or equal to 0.05) at every time studied except at 180 min. At 60 min, peak mean glucose was 171 +/- 14 mg/dl versus 128 +/- 7 mg/dl in controls (P less than 0.02). Except for fasting, mean IRI levels were significantly higher (P less than 0.001) in hyperthyroid subjects than in controls at all times studied. At 60 min, IRI rose to a peak of 125 +/- 11 microU/ml in hyperthyroid subjects versus 50 +/- 9 microU/ml in controls (P less than 0.001). Mean fasting, stimulated, and incremental IRGIP levels were slightly higher but not statistically different in the hyperthyroid subjects versus controls. Glucose and IRI responses are exaggerated in hyperthyroidism after oral glucose ingestion. Even though GIP has insulinotropic action, its role in the hyperinsulinism found in hyperthyroid subjects appears to be minimal.