Treatment with growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 in septicemia: effects on carbohydrate metabolism

Growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) may be beneficial against the protein catabolism seen in injury and septicemia. Further understanding of their effects on carbohydrate metabolism is needed. In a septic porcine model receiving total parenteral nutrition, pretreatment with GH or IGF-1 (or no treatment in controls) was followed by an infusion of live Escherichia coli bacteria. Endogenous glucose production, carbohydrate oxidation, glucose and lactate fluxes over the liver, gastrointestinal organs, kidney, and hindleg were determined. Endogenous glucose production increased during septicemia in the GH group. The metabolic acidosis induced by septicemia was augmented by GH, but attenuated by IGF-1. The alanine and lactate levels were significantly higher in the GH- than in the IGF-1 treated animals during septicemia. IGF-1 pretreatment appeared to induce favorable effects while GH pretreatment might produce unfavorable effects on carbohydrate metabolism in septic piglets.