Hp. Sauerwein et Ja. Romijn, Alterations in glucose metabolism in non-endocrine disease: potential implication for wasting, CLIN NUTR, 20(1), 2001, pp. 2-8
Diseases like sepsis, AIDS and cancer can induce an increase in endogenous
glucose production. Sepsis and cancer induce insulin resistance whereas inc
reased insulin sensitivity is found in AIDS. Non-oxidative glucose disposal
is increased in sepsis and cancer but normal in AIDS. These differences in
glucose metabolism between these three diseases characterized by wasting p
reclude energy-requiring changes in glucose metabolism as the common denomi
nator for wasting in ail three diseases. Moreover, the energy requirements
of the changes in glucose metabolism induced by cancer and sepsis are rathe
r small. Consequently, alterations in glucose metabolism are pathophysiolog
ical epiphenomena rather than a cause of wasting in disorders like sepsis,
cancer and AIDS. (C) 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.