Clofibrate-induced changes in glucagon and insulin secretion in patients with angiographically documented coronary...

This study examines insulin and glucagon secretion in the basal state and in response to clofibrate therapy in patients with angiographically proven coronary artery disease. When compared with weight matched subjects without coronary artery disease, neither insulin nor glucagon secretion were abnormal in response to L-arginine stimulation. However, in response to clofibrate, a marked reduction in insulin secretion and simultaneous elevation in glucagon secretion characterized all patients. Our data suggest the hypothesis that altered insulin and glucagon secretion in response to clofibrate therapy may participate in the reduction of new coronary events reported to occur during therapy with this drug.