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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #138195
Title: GLUCOSE PRODUCTION, GLUCONEOGENESIS AND INSULIN SENSITIVITY IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS: AN EVALUATION OF THEIR REPRODUCIBILITY

Author
item Sunehag, Agneta
item Treuth Phd, Margarita
item TOFFOLO, GIANNA - UNIVERSITY OF PADUA
item Butte, Nancy
item COBELLI, CLAUDIO - UNIVERSITY OF PADUA
item Bier, Dennis
item Haymond, Morey

Submitted to: Pediatric Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/30/2000
Publication Date: 7/1/2001
Citation: Sunehag,A.L., Treuth,M.S., Toffolo,G., Butte,N.F., Cobelli,C., Bier,D.M., Haymond,M.W. 2001. Glucose production, gluconeogenesis, and insulin sensitivity in children and adolescents: an evaluation of their reproducibility. Pediatric Research. 50(1):115-123.

Interpretive Summary: We demonstrate, using a pre-packed meal strategy as described, that it is possible to maintain a consistent dietary energy intake and composition for a period of 7 days with the child carrying out their normal activities. Furthermore, using our study design, it is possible to provide highly reproducible data on a number of measures of glucose metabolism. The power calculations performed on the basis of these data will enable us and other investigators to more precisely design studies to evaluate the impact of various treatments and dietary intervention strategies in children (e.g. children and adolescents with obesity and/or type II diabetes).

Technical Abstract: The prevalence of overweight and obese children has doubled, and the incidence of type 2 diabetes in children (0-19 y) has increased 4-fold during the past several decades. As a result we can anticipate an increased number of metabolic studies in children. There are few data on measures of glucose metabolism in normal children, and virtually none relating to their reproducibility. The aims of this study were 1) to provide new data on energy expenditure and glucose, lipid, and protein metabolism in nonobese, healthy children and adolescents; 2) to evaluate their reproducibility; and 3) on the basis of these data, to perform power calculations for metabolic studies. Eight nonobese subjects (8-16 y) were studied on two occasions, preceded by 7 days of a diet with identical energy content and macronutrient distribution. Gluconeogenesis, measured by deuterium oxide, accounted for 50% of glucose production. Insulin sensitivity, measured by the labeled minimal model, averaged 4.9 x 10(-4) mL(mU x min)(-1). Glucose appearance rate was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in the children than in the adolescents. Furthermore, we demonstrated that for energy intake and expenditure, plasma concentrations of glucose and C-peptide, and rates of appearance of glucose and leucine, a 10% difference can be detected in fewer than five subjects with a power of 80% and a type I error of 5%. Insulin concentration, gluconeogenesis, insulin secretory indices, insulin sensitivity, and glucose effectiveness were more variable, but with the above power a difference of 25% could be detected in 7-11 subjects using a paired study design.