Hyperaminoacidaemia reduces insulin-mediated glucose disposal in healthy man

To determine whether hyperaminoacidaemia may modify insulin-mediated glucose disposal, normal subjects were studied with the euglycaemic glucose-clamp technique, with or without an amino acid infusion, at a rate sufficient to duplicate the plasma concentration of most amino acids. Steady-state glucose infusion rates to maintain euglycaemia were 36% lower during hyperaminoacidaemia (7.3 +/- 1.0 versus 11.4 +/- 0.8 mg X kg-1 X min-1, p less than 0.01) at comparable insulin concentrations (92 +/- 6 versus 93 +/- 7 mU/l respectively). Thus, under conditions of hyperinsulinaemia, amino acids could compete with glucose as metabolic fuels.