ORAL GLUCOSE-TOLERANCE TEST AFTER HIGH-DOSE IV BIOTIN ADMINISTRATION IN NORMOGLUCEMIC HEMODIALYSIS-PATIENTS

Abnormal glucose metabolism in uremia may result from a complex interp lay between decreased insulin secretion and insulin resistance. Recent studies report beneficial effect of biotin administration in glucose metabolism in diabetic animals and in a small number of patients,vith diabetes mellitus. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the re sponse of oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) to the i.v. administratio n of large doses of biotin in hemodialysis patients. Eleven hemodialys is patients aged 56.90 +/- 11.20 (32-76) pears on regular hemodialysis thrice a week for 2.72 +/- 1.79 (1-7) years were studied Fasting veno us plasma glucose, glucosylated hemoglobin (%GH), and plasma glucose c oncentration 2 h after the administration of a 75-g glucose load were measured before, and 2 weeks and 2 months after administration of 50 m g of biotin i.v. postdialysis, and after a 2-month washout period. Dur ing the study, dialysis schedule and patients' medication, diet, and d ry weight were kept unchanged. OGTT was abnormal in 4 patients before biotin administration and became normal in 3 patients (75%). Our resul ts offer support to the findings of other studies about the beneficial effect of biotin in experimental or clinical diabetes mellitus, and a rgue for the involvement of biotin in glucose metabolism.