Effect of acetylsalicylic acid on insulin sensitivity in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance.

The effect of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) on tissue sensitivity to insulin was studied in 14 non-obese subjects with impaired glucose tolerance. For the determination of insulin sensitivity a 1 h priming dose-constant insulin infusion technique was used. The percent decrease of plasma glucose and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentration at comparable steady-state insulin levels was taken as a measure of body sensitivity to insulin. Patients were restudied after daily treatment with 3.0 g ASA over 3 days. The decrease in plasma glucose and NEFA concentration was in the same range prior to and after ASA treatment (20.1 +/- 3.4 vs 20.8 +/- 4.9% and 54.2 +/- 4.8 vs 54.2 +/- 5.4%), indicating no change of insulin sensitivity by ASA treatment. The mean C-peptide concentration during the insulin infusion test did not differ between the two studies. The metabolic clearance rate of insulin was slightly reduced and the disappearance time of insulin was increased after treatment with ASA. In conclusion ASA did not exert any effect on tissue sensitivity to insulin in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance.