[Comparison of biosynthetic human insulin and purified pork insulin. Studies in insulin-resistant obese patients using the insulin suppression test].

An insulin suppression test performed in random order with either biosynthetic human insulin or purified pork insulin was used to compare biological activity of these two insulins in obese patients suffering from varying degrees of glucose intolerance. Blood glucose curve, steady-state blood glucose levels, insulin sensitivity indices and steady-state plasma insulin levels were identical during the two sets of tests. Furthermore endogenous insulin and glucagon secretion were similarly suppressed. The insulin suppression test is a simple and rapid procedure to compare the biological activity of fast-acting insulins. Our results confirm the insulin-resistance in obesity and clearly show that biosynthetic human and porcine insulins have similar biological potency.