British Journal of Nutrition

Table of Contents - 2000 - Volume 84, Issue 05  

Research Article

Effects of aliphatic dioic acids and glycerol-1,2,3-tris(dodecanedioate) on D-glucose-stimulated insulin release in rat pancreatic islets

W. J. Malaissea1 c1, A. V. Grecoa2 and G. Mingronea2

a1 Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, Brussels Free University, Brussels, Belgium

a2 Instituto de Clinica Medica, Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy

Abstract

Aliphatic dioic acids have been proposed as alternative nutrients in selected clinical situations. In this study, their possible insulinotropic action was investigated in isolated rat pancreatic islets prepared from fed rats. Azelaic acid, sebacic acid and tridecanedioic acids, when tested at a 10·0 mM CONCENTRATION, WERE FOUND TO AUGMENT INSULIN RELEASE EVOKED BY d-glucose (7·0 mm) in the pancreatic islets. Likewise, glycerol-1,2,3-tris(dodecanoedioate), when used at concentrations close to 1·0 mm, increased the secretory response to the hexose. It is speculated that these findings may extend to insulin-producing cells, the knowledge that aliphatic dioic acids or their esters may act as energy substrates, e.g. in parenteral nutrition.

(Received August 09 1999)

(Revised February 24 2000)

(Accepted March 09 2000)

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Correspondence:

c1 * Corresponding author: Professor W. J. Malaisse, fax +32 2 555 62 39, email malaisse@med.ulb.ac.be

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