The Effect of Glucose on the Plasma Concentration of Somatostatin during Caloric Deficiency in Man

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Abstract
Somatostatin produced in the D-cells of the stomach and the pancreas plays an important role in the carbohydrate metabolism and has been suggested to be involved in the disturbed glucose homeostasis during starvation. We investigated two groups of subjects during severe caloric deficiency. Nine healthy subjects (mean age, 32 years) fasted for 4 days, and the plasma concentration of somatostatin increased greatly, from 11.0 +/- 1.3 pM to 21.7 +/- 2.3 pM (p = 0.001). Intravenous infusion of 50 g glucose after a 60-h fast and oral loading of 50 g glucose after an 80-h fast normalized temporarily the plasma concentration within 45 min and 60 min, respectively. In another group of 12 subjects (mean age, 34 years), who participated in a 90-km cross-country ski race lasting 4.45-6.50 h and who were suspected of being in severely catabolic metabolic state, the plasma concentration of somatostatin increased from 6.1 +/- 0.8 pM to 26.9 +/- 4.7 pM (p < 0.001). Post-race oral feeding of 100 g glucose in seven of the subjects normalized the plasma concentration within 30 min, but the concentration remained increased in the five subjects who had no post-race caloric supply. The results indicate a close relationship between somatostatin and glucose during caloric deficiency in man.