OBJECTIVE: Endogenous low-molecular-weight glycans containing pinitol (3-O-methyl-D-chiro-inositol) and D-chiro-inositol are thought to mediate certain actions of insulin. We tested the hypothesis that oral administration of soybean-derived pinitol would improve insulin sensitivity in obese subjects (BMI = 36.6 kg/m2) with diet-treated type 2 diabetes or glucose intolerance (HbA1c = 6.8%). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: There were 22 subjects randomized to receive either pinitol 20 mg x kg(-1) x day(-1) (n = 12) or placebo (n = 10) in a 28-day double-blinded trial. RESULTS: No toxicity due to the pinitol was observed during the study The sensitivity of glucose and lipid metabolism to insulin were assessed by measurement of whole-body glucose, palmitate, and glycerol kinetics during basal conditions and a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp. Metabolic measurements were made at baseline and again at the end of the study Final plasma levels of pinitol were 48-fold (1.06 +/- 0.15 vs. 0.02 +/- 0.01 micromol/l, P < 0.0001) and D-chiro-inositol levels 14-fold (0.56 +/- 0.08 vs. 0.04 +/- 0.02 micromol/l, P < 0.0001) greater in the pinitol group compared with placebo. CONCLUSIONS: Four weeks of pinitol treatment did not alter baseline glucose production, insulin-mediated glucose disposal, or rates of appearance of free fatty acids and glycerol in plasma. We conclude that plasma levels of both pinitol and D-chiro-inositol are very responsive to pinitol ingestion, but insulin sensitivity does not increase after pinitol treatment in individuals with obesity and mild type 2 diabetes.
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Abstract|
July 01 2000
Effect of pinitol treatment on insulin action in subjects with insulin resistance.
A Davis;
A Davis
Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri 63110, USA. [email protected]
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M Christiansen;
M Christiansen
Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri 63110, USA. [email protected]
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J F Horowitz;
J F Horowitz
Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri 63110, USA. [email protected]
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S Klein;
S Klein
Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri 63110, USA. [email protected]
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M K Hellerstein;
M K Hellerstein
Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri 63110, USA. [email protected]
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R E Ostlund, Jr
R E Ostlund, Jr
Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri 63110, USA. [email protected]
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Citation
A Davis, M Christiansen, J F Horowitz, S Klein, M K Hellerstein, R E Ostlund; Effect of pinitol treatment on insulin action in subjects with insulin resistance.. Diabetes Care 1 July 2000; 23 (7): 1000–1005. https://doi.org/10.2337/diacare.23.7.1000
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