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 mlċmin-1ċ100 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 mlċmin-1ċ100 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 μmol/l (P < 0.001), while hyperinsulinaemia did 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.
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Research Article|
August 01 2000
The impairment in endothelial function induced by non-esterified fatty acids can be reversed by insulin
Lars LIND;
*Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Uppsala, S-75185 Uppsala, Sweden
Correspondence: Dr Lars Lind (e-mail lars.lind@medsci.uu.se).
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Andreas FUGMANN;
Andreas FUGMANN
*Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Uppsala, S-75185 Uppsala, Sweden
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Stefan BRANTH;
Stefan BRANTH
†Department of Nutrition, University Hospital of Uppsala, S-75185 Uppsala, Sweden
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Bengt VESSBY;
Bengt VESSBY
‡Department of Geriatrics, University Hospital of Uppsala, S-75185 Uppsala, Sweden
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Jonas MILLGÅRD;
Jonas MILLGÅRD
*Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Uppsala, S-75185 Uppsala, Sweden
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Christian BERNE;
Christian BERNE
*Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Uppsala, S-75185 Uppsala, Sweden
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Hans LITHELL
Hans LITHELL
‡Department of Geriatrics, University Hospital of Uppsala, S-75185 Uppsala, Sweden
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
December 09 1999
Revision Received:
March 03 2000
Accepted:
May 04 2000
Online ISSN: 1470-8736
Print ISSN: 0143-5221
The Biochemical Society and the Medical Research Society © 2000
2000
Clin Sci (Lond) (2000) 99 (3): 169–174.
Article history
Received:
December 09 1999
Revision Received:
March 03 2000
Accepted:
May 04 2000
Citation
Lars LIND, Andreas FUGMANN, Stefan BRANTH, Bengt VESSBY, Jonas MILLGÅRD, Christian BERNE, Hans LITHELL; The impairment in endothelial function induced by non-esterified fatty acids can be reversed by insulin. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 September 2000; 99 (3): 169–174. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/cs0990169
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