Effect of Diet on Insulin Response in Normal and Hypophy-sectomized Dogs

Abstract

In another paper 1 are described the effects of high fat-low carbohydrate and low fat-high carbohydrate diets on the glucose tolerance in normal and hypophysectomized dogs. We report here the effect of similar diets on the insulin response of such animals.

Ten normal dogs were fed from one to 3 weeks on a diet consisting of 100 gm. of fat and 350 gm. raw lean meat daily. The animals were then given 0.5 units of insulin per kilo of body weight intravenously and their response to insulin determined by blood sugar determinations made at the intervals indicated in the table. The same animals were then given a low fat-high carbohydrate diet consisting of 100 gm. cane sugar, one liter of skimmed milk and 300 gm. of whole wheat bread daily for a similar time period. Their insulin response was again determined.

The results are presented in Table I. Their analysis shows no consistent effect of change in diet on insulin response.

Six hypophysectomized dogs within 2 months following the operation were given the above diets for similar time periods and their insulin response again determined. Three of the dogs of this series had been used before in the normal series.

The results are presented in Table II. The animals studied show definitely without exception better insulin response after the low fat-high carbohydrate than after high fat-low carbohydrate diet.