The Aging Endocrine Pancreas: Characterization of the Entero-insular Axis Physiology in the Elderly

The Aging Endocrine Pancreas: Characterization of the Entero-insular Axis Physiology in the Elderly.

Like most endocrine axes, the entero-insular axis is expected to go through an age-related physiological deterioration, what might contribute to special features of the elderly onset type 2 diabetes in comparison to middle-age.

Twenty four NGT volunteers will be evaluated by a meal tolerance test (MTT) for incretin hormone measurements, and by the hyperglycemic clamp followed by an arginine test for assessing the beta-cell function and the acute insulin response. Others parameters as body composition and basic biochemistry will be also evaluated at Laboratory of Investigation on Metabolism and Diabetes - LIMED / State university of Campinas, Brazil.

The characterization of the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) production, dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) activity and/or endocrine pancreas incretin-response at aging, might be an interesting evidence to reinforce an incretin-based therapeutic approach for elderly onset type 2 diabetes.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Stable weight (< 5% variation) within the last three months
• Age: 35 to 50 years old for middle-age group, and 65 to 80 years old for elderly group.
• BMI: 20 to 29.9 kg/m2
• Normal glucose tolerance (NGT) for groups Elderly and Middle-age

Exclusion Criteria:

• Use of estrogen, progestogen or systemic corticosteroids.
• Hepatic cirrhosis, renal failure or any clinical condition with impaired insulin sensitivity
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Uncontrolled systemic or debilitating diseases