Lowering of triglycerides by gemfibrozil affects neither the glucoregulatory nor antilipolytic effect of insulin in type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic patients.

Hypertriglyceridaemia and insulin resistance are closely associated but it is unknown whether hypertriglyceridaemia per se contributes to insulin resistance. In the present study we examined whether gemfibrozil, by lowering triglyceride levels, improves the glucoregulatory and antilipolytic action of insulin in Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus. Twenty patients were randomly allocated to receive either placebo or gemfibrozil 1200 mg daily for 12 weeks in a double-blind study. Very low density lipoprotein triglyceride levels decreased in the gemfibrozil group by 42 +/- 12% (p < 0.01). Gemfibrozil had no effect on the diurnal concentration of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA). At the randomization HbA1c levels were comparable (7.6 +/- 0.3 vs 7.8 +/- 0.2%, NS) and increased slightly both in the gemfibrozil (8.2 +/- 0.4%, p < 0.05) and placebo groups (8.0 +/- 0.3%, NS). Pre- and post-treatment diurnal glucose and insulin concentrations remained unchanged. Basal pre- and post-treatment hepatic glucose production rates were comparable in both groups and similarly suppressed by insulin. Rate of whole body glucose disposal during a low-dose insulin infusion (serum insulin -90 pmol/l) (pre- vs post-gemfibrozil 11.9 +/- 1.1 vs 11.1 +/- 0.7, pre- vs post-placebo 9.9 +/- 1.1 vs 10.8 +/- 0.8 mumol.kg-1.min-1, NS for both) and a high-dose insulin infusion (serum insulin approximately 500 pmol/l) (16.2 +/- 1.7 vs 17.7 +/- 2.7, 17.1 +/- 4.2 vs 17.4 +/- 2.9 mumol.kg-1 x min-1, respectively, NS for both) remained unchanged. Basal pre- and post-treatment NEFA turnover rates were comparable in both groups and similarly suppressed by insulin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)