Pharmacokinetics of human insulin zinc suspension (recombinant DNA) in normal man: a comparison with porcine insulin zinc suspension.

A single dose crossover study in 10 fasting, non-diabetic men compared the 24-hour profiles of blood glucose, plasma insulin, and C-peptide following a single subcutaneous injection of either human insulin zinc suspension crystalline (recombinant DNA), or highly purified porcine insulin zinc suspension (mixed), in a standard dose of 0.2 U/kg. Both insulins produced moderate hypoglycaemia within 3 hours which persisted for 24 hours after administration. The rate of fall of blood glucose was similar from 0-3 hours but was significantly lower after the porcine insulin at 4 and 7 hours (p less than 0.05). Mean plasma insulin values were higher after porcine insulin between 2 and 6 hours (p less than 0.05) and a biphasic pattern was observed following injection of both insulins. Plasma C-peptide declined after each insulin was administered, and was significantly lower between 2 and 7 hours after porcine insulin. The duration of the hypoglycaemic action of human crystalline insulin (recombinant DNA), assessed by blood glucose measurements and C-peptide suppression, was equivalent to porcine insulin zinc suspension (mixed) (Monotard MC, Novo) over 24 hours.