Influence of hemodialysis on incretin hormones and insulin secretion in diabetic and non-diabetic patients.

BACKGROUND

Incretin hormones are secreted in the gut after a meal and stimulate insulin production. Both major incretins, that is, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), are eliminated by the kidneys. Little is known about the influence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on the incretin axis. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of the commencement of chronic hemodialysis (HD) therapy on serum GLP-1 and GIP, and insulin sensitivity in diabetic and non-diabetic patients.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

The study comprised 56 patients (23 F, 33 M; mean age 57 ± 14 years) with ESRD in the course of diabetic nephropathy (n = 23) and non-diabetic renal diseases (n = 34) who started chronic HD. Glucose metabolism, including incretin hormones concentration, was assessed before the first HD session and repeated after the first 6 months of the therapy.

RESULTS

After 6 months of HD, a significant increase in fasting GLP-1 concentration was observed in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients [by 2.27 pmol/l (45 %) and 1.28 pmol/l (22 %), respectively, p = 0.0003]. Serum GIP increased significantly only in diabetic patients [by 30.9 pg/ml (55 %); p = 0.008]. No significant change of fasting glucose was found but HOMA-IR and serum insulin decreased significantly in diabetic patients (p = 0.01 and p = 0.008, respectively). In contrast, HOMA-B was unchanged in both groups. Changes of HOMA-IR did not significantly correlate with serum GLP-1 or GIP concentrations.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that starting the hemodialysis therapy helps to restore the incretin axis in particular in patients with the diabetic kidney disease.