Abstract
We have evaluated the short-term effects of amiloride on insulin action in vivo, since amiloride is known to impair insulin action in vitro.
Seven healthy subjects were treated according to a randomized, double-blind, cross-over protocol. The treatment periods were 3 days each with amiloride 15 mg daily and placebo. Insulin action on glucose turnover was assessed directly after each treatment period with the hyper-insulinaemic euglycaemic glucose clamp technique.
At the two insulin concentrations studied (∼ 30 mU·l−1 and ∼ 200 mU·l−1), the glucose infusion rate required to maintain constant euglycaemia did not differ after either amiloride or placebo. The rates of glucose production and utilization were also similar, whereas the so-called insulin sensitivity index at the lower insulin concentration was significantly reduced (by about 15 %) after amiloride. Moreover, amiloride produced significantly higher fasting insulin and C-peptide concentrations, whereas fasting glucose and NEFA concentrations were unaltered.
In conclusion, these data suggest that short-term amiloride slightly impairs insulin sensitivity with respect to glucose uptake. However, overall glucose homoeostasis does not appear to be affected, probably due to a compensatory rise in plasma insulin.
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Eriksson, J.W., Fowelin, J. & Urbanavicius, V. Insulin concentrations and insulin sensitivity after short-term amiloride in healthy subjects. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 46, 469–472 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00191913
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00191913