Effects of oral vs. i.v. glucose administration on splanchnic and extrasplanchnic O2 uptake and blood flow

The metabolic and circulatory responses to intravenous or oral administration of glucose (75 g) were studied in healthy subjects. Pulmonary oxygen uptake increased promptly after oral but not during intravenous glucose infusion. The average 2-h rise above basal in whole body oxygen uptake was 8 +/- 1% (P < 0.001) after oral glucose and 3 +/- 1% (P < 0.05) during intravenous glucose infusion. After oral glucose, splanchnic oxygen uptake rose initially by approximately 15% (P < 0.01) and then declined; its average 2-h postprandial level was not significantly higher than that in the basal state. During intravenous glucose, splanchnic oxygen uptake decreased gradually during the first 75 min, reaching a level approximately 25% below basal (P < 0.05). Oxygen consumption by extrasplanchnic tissues rose significantly and to a similar extent (8%, 2 h average) with both intravenous and oral glucose. Splanchnic blood flow increased significantly after oral but not during intravenous glucose. It is concluded that 1) intravenous infusion and oral glucose administration elicit extrasplanchnic thermogenic effects of similar magnitude, 2) during intravenous glucose infusion, the extrasplanchnic thermogenic effect is counterbalanced by a simultaneous reduction in splanchnic oxygen uptake, resulting in a minimal (3%) net rise in whole body oxygen uptake, and 3) oral glucose ingestion but not intravenous glucose infusion increases the splanchnic blood flow.