The Effect of Long-term Treatment with Sulfonylurea Derivatives on Protein Metabolism in Diabetes Mellitus

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Abstract
In 101 diabetic adults without complications we determined before and during long-term treatment with sulfonylurea derivatives the serum protein content, electrophoretic serum composition, alkaline serum phosphatase, brom-sulphalein retention, in serum, and in the 24 hour urine free [alpha]-amino N and free [alpha]-amino acids were measured. The oxidative function of the liver was examined by loading with 2 g of methionine. The electro-phoretic serum protein composition was only altered in sulfonylurea failure. After successful long-term treatment no changes in serum protein composition, alkaline serum phosphatase and bromsulphalein retention were found; however, the hyperaminoacidemia and hyper-aminoaciduria decreased to normal values. The cause of this effect is probably an augmented production of insulin, which improves the oxidative deamination of amino acids in the liver.