Glucose production during exercise in humans: a-hv balance and isotopic-tracer measurements compared

Abstract

The present study compared the arteriohepatic venous (a-hv) balance technique and the tracer-dilution method for estimation of hepatic glucose production during both moderate and heavy exercise in humans. Eight healthy young men (aged 25 yr; range, 23–30 yr) performed semisupine cycling for 40 min at 50.4 ± 1.5(SE)% maximal O2 consumption, followed by 30 min at 69.0 ± 2.2% maximal O2 consumption. The splanchnic blood flow was estimated by continuous infusion of indocyanine green, and net splanchnic glucose output was calculated as the product of splanchnic blood flow and a-hv blood glucose concentration differences. Glucose appearance rate was determined by a primed, continuous infusion of [3-3H]glucose and was calculated by using formulas for a modified single compartment in non-steady state. Glucose production was similar whether determined by the a-hv balance technique or by the tracer-dilution method, both at rest and during moderate and intense exercise ( P > 0.05). It is concluded that, during exercise in humans, determination of hepatic glucose production can be performed equally well with the two techniques.