Pancreatic polypeptide: a marker for lean non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus?

Both basal and postprandial pancreatic polypeptide (PP) concentrations were exaggerated twofold in lean NIDDM patients, whereas they were normal in lean IDDM and obese NIDDM patients who were hyperglycemic as a result of partial insulin withdrawal. Insulin infusion from an artificial endocrine pancreas, which resulted in fasting euglycemia and near-normoglycemia postprandially, had no effect on PP responses in any of the diabetic patients. No postprandial PP responses were observed in totally pancreatectomized (TPX) patients. Excessive basal and postprandial concentrations of PP in diabetes appear to be related to both leanness and residual beta cell function and, therefore, potential markers for lean NIDDM.