Metabolic effects of glucagon in humans

Publication date: Available online 20 December 2018Source: Journal of Clinical & Translational EndocrinologyAuthor(s): María M. Adeva-Andany, Raquel Funcasta-Calderón, Carlos Fernández-Fernández, Elvira Castro-Quintela, Natalia Carneiro-FreireAbstractDiabetes is a common metabolic disorder that involves glucose, amino acids, and fatty acids. Either insulin deficiency or insulin resistance may cause diabetes. Insulin deficiency causes type 1 diabetes and diabetes associated with total pancreatectomy. Glucagon produces insulin resistance. Glucagon-induced insulin resistance promotes type 2 diabetes and diabetes associated with glucagonoma. Further, glucagon-induced insulin resistance aggravates the metabolic consequences of the insulin-deficient state. A major metabolic effect of insulin is the accumulation of glucose as glycogen in the liver. Glucagon opposes hepatic insulin action and enhances the rate of gluconeogenesis, increasing hepatic glucose output. In order to support gluconeogenesis, glucagon promotes skeletal muscle wasting to supply amino acids as gluconeogenic precursors. Glucagon promotes hepatic fatty acid oxidation to supply energy required to sustain gluconeogenesis. Hepatic fatty acid oxidation generates β-hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate (ketogenesis). Prospective studies reveal that elevated glucagon secretion at baseline occurs in healthy subjects who develop impaired glucose tolerance at follow-up compared with subjects who maintain normal glucose to...
Source: Journal of Clinical and Translational Endocrinology - Category: Endocrinology Source Type: research