Dyslipidaemia, with elevations of circulating triacylglycerols (triglycerides) and non-esterified (free) fatty acids, and hyperinsulinaemia are often found in the same subjects, the so-called 'insulin resistance syndrome'. The present study aims to investigate how elevated levels of non-esterified fatty acids, hyperinsulinaemia and the combination of these factors affects endothelium-dependent vasodilatation (EDV). Ten volunteers were examined on two occasions. Intralipid (plus heparin) or saline (0.9% NaCl) was infused for 4 h. During the final 2 h, euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemia (80+/-4 m-units/l) was imposed. EDV and endothelium-independent vasodilatation were evaluated in the forearm by local intra-arterial infusion of methacholine or sodium nitroprusside at baseline and after 2 and 4 h. Forearm blood flow was measured by venous occlusion plethysmography. Lipid oxidation was determined by measuring plasma malondialdehyde levels. Infusion of Intralipid plus heparin increased the concentration of non-esterified fatty acids to 2.6+/-1.2 mmol/l and decreased EDV from 27.6+/-8.7 to 21.0+/-5.7 ml x min(-1) x 100 ml(-1) tissue (P < 0.01). This effect was completely reversed by hyperinsulinaemia (P < 0.01). Hyperinsulinaemia alone increased EDV (to 30.4+/-9.5 ml x min(-1) x 100 ml(-1) tissue; P < 0.01), while endothelium-independent vasodilatation was unaltered by the interventions. Infusion of Intralipid plus heparin increased malondialdehyde levels from 0.67+/-0.22 to 1.2+/-0.37 micromol/l (P < 0.001), while hyperinsulinaemiadid not change the malondialdehyde level. In conclusion, an acute increase in serum levels of non-esterified fatty acids increased lipid oxidation and decreased EDV. The effect on EDV of non-esterified fatty acids could be reversed by hyperinsulinaemia.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the haemodynamic changes during hyperinsulinaemia, hyperglycaemia or hypertriglyceridaemia in relation to those following a mixed meal. Ten subjects were subjected to hypertriglyceridaemia (3.9 mmol/l) for 2 h by an infusion of Intralipid and heparin. Nine subjects received a hyperglycaemic clamp (12.5 mmol/l) with octreotide and low-dose insulin infusion to maintain normoinsulinaemia (10 m-units/l). Ten subjects received saline for 2 h as a control and, thereafter, 2 h of normoglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp (80 m-units/l). Finally, ten subjects were evaluated for 2 h following an ordinary mixed meal. Calf blood flow was measured by venous occlusion plethysmography and cardiac index by thoracic bioimpedance. Both the mixed meal and normoglycaemic hyperinsulinaemia lowered total peripheral resistance, and increased calf blood flow and cardiac index, whereas blood pressure decreased (P <0.05-0.001). Both hyperglycaemia and hypertriglyceridaemia increased calf blood flow, but blood pressure was unchanged. Total peripheral resistance was unchanged in hypertriglyceridaemia, whereas hyperglycaemia induced a significant increase. Normoglycaemic hyperinsulinaemia induced a haemodynamic pattern similar, but to a lesser extent, to the pattern seen following a mixed meal. Hyperinsulinaemia seems to be a major mediator of the haemodynamic response, but other factors are obviously also of great importance. Hypertriglyceridaemia and hyperglycaemia induced haemodynamic responses that are not similar to those seen following a mixed meal.

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of an ordinary mixed meal on endothelium-dependent vasodilation. Ten young healthy volunteers were given a mixed meal (minced meat sauce with rice, 900 kcal, 34% of the energy content was fat). In the fasting state, at 60 and 120 min after the start of the meal, endothelium-dependent vasodilation and endothelium-independent vasodilation were evaluated by local infusion of metacholine (4 microg min (-1)) and sodium nitroprusside (10 microg min (-1)) in the brachial artery. Blood flow in the forearm was measured using venous occlusion plethysmography. Endothelium-dependent vasodilation decreased from 15.4 +/- 3.3 (mean +/- SD) at fasting to 13.7 +/- 3.5 mL min (-1) (100 mL tissue)-1 (P < 0.01) 60 min after feeding, but had returned to the fasting level at 120 min. At 60 min, but not in the fasting state, the serum level of free fatty acids was inversely related to endothelium-dependent vasodilation (r=-0.74, P < 0.05), although no significant net changes in FFA levels were seen. Endothelium-independent vasodilation was not affected by the mixed meal. No similar attenuations in endothelium-dependent vasodilation were seen during control meals. In conclusion, an ordinary mixed meal transiently attenuated endothelium-dependent vasodilation. Free fatty acids may be involved in this effect on endothelial function.

Insulin-mediated stimulation of blood flow to skeletal muscle has been proposed to be of major importance for insulin-mediated glucose uptake. The aim of this study was to investigate the relative importance of blood flow and glucose extraction as determinants of insulin-mediated glucose uptake in the human forearm. Forearm blood flow (FBF), glucose extraction and oxygen consumption were evaluated for 100 min during the euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp (92 mU/l) in nine healthy subjects. FBF was measured by venous occlusion plethysmography. Forearm glucose uptake increased sevenfold during the hyperinsulinaemia (P<0.001). Forearm glucose extraction showed a minor increase during the first 10 min of hyperinsulinaemia, but the most marked increase took place between 10 and 20 min (+170%). Thereafter, only a minor further increase was seen. During the first 10 min of hyperinsulinaemia FBF was unchanged. Thereafter, FBF increased steadily to a plateau reached after 60 min (+50%, P<0.001). A close relationship between whole body glucose uptake and FBF was seen at the end of the clamp (r = 0.75, P<0.02), but at this time the relationship between whole body glucose uptake and forearm glucose extraction was not significant. The modest increase in O2 consumption seen at the beginning of the clamp (+19%) was not related to FBF during the early phase of the clamp. In conclusion, the early course of insulin-mediated glucose uptake in the human forearm was mainly due to an increase in glucose extraction. However, with time the insulin-mediated increase in blood flow increased in importance and after 100 min of hyperinsulinaemia FBF was the major determinant of glucose uptake.

Insulin-mediated vasodilation has been suggested to be of importance for glucose uptake during normoglycemic hyperinsulinemia. If this also is valid after an ordinary mixed meal remains to be evaluated. Forearm blood flow (FBF) and forearm glucose uptake change (evaluated by venous occlusion plethysmography) and glucose arteriovenous differences were evaluated over 120 minutes in 10 healthy volunteers following an ordinary mixed meal (700-900 kcal, 34% of energy from fat). Fasting arterial glucose level was 4.9+/-0.9 mmol/l, and the maximum glucose level was reached 30 minutes after the start of ingestion (6.6+/-0.8 mmol/l, p<0.0001). Plasma insulin levels were increased four-fold. FBF increased rapidly within 20 minutes after the start of ingestion and reached its maximum after 50 minutes (94% higher than baseline level, p<0.01). After 2 hours FBF was still substantially elevated (75% above baseline level, p<0.01). Forearm glucose uptake increased fivefold already after 20 minutes ( p<0.01). During the 2 hours, the increase in FBF contributed to 41% of the forearm glucose uptake ( p<0.05). The present study showed that the increase in FBF seen after an ordinary mixed meal is important for the change in forearm glucose uptake. These results support the view that modulation of limb blood flow is a determinant of glucose uptake.