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. 2018 Apr;22(4):209-213.
doi: 10.4103/ijccm.IJCCM_175_17.

The Impact of Dopamine on Insulin Secretion in Healthy Controls

Lisa J Underland  1 , Erika R Mark  1 , Ranjitha Katikaneni  1 , Rubina Heptulla  1
Affiliations

The Impact of Dopamine on Insulin Secretion in Healthy Controls

Lisa J Underland et al. Indian J Crit Care Med. 2018 Apr.

Abstract

Objective: Dopamine is very commonly used in the critical care setting and impacts glucose homeostasis. In some studies, it is noted to increase insulin resistance or decrease insulin secretion. The role of insulin secretion in response to dopamine is incompletely understood.

Methods: Eight individuals underwent a hyperglycemic clamp with a dopamine infusion, and eight controls underwent hyperglycemic clamp alone. Insulin, C-peptide, glucagon, cortisol, and norepinephrine (NE) concentrations were measured at various time points. An index of insulin sensitivity (M/I) was calculated. Statistical comparison between the control and treatment arm was done using repeated measures ANOVA. The data is expressed as mean ± standard deviation. Paired t-test was used to compare pre- and post-dopamine infusion time points in the study individuals only. Data was considered to be statistically significant at P < 0.05.

Results: On assessing the treatment group before and during dopamine infusion, insulin and C-peptide concentrations were higher at the time of the infusion (P = 0.02 and P = 0.003, respectively). The index of insulin sensitivity was not statistically different. There was a significant decrease in insulin (P = 0.002), C-peptide (P = 0.005), and NE (P < 0.0001) concentrations in the treatment group, compared to the controls. Glucagon concentration was higher in the treatment group (P = 0.02).

Conclusion: In this study, dopamine infusion did not adversely impact insulin secretion.

Keywords: Dopamine; glucose; hyperglycemia; insulin sensitivity; pressors.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Insulin, C-peptide, and glucagon concentrations (a-c) were analyzed during the time points, 60–240 min and are represented as black circles – control and black squares – treatment. All data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation. P < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Difference between the groups is expressed as mean +/- 95% confidence interval
Figure 2
Figure 2
Index of insulin sensitivity (M/I) was calculated at time points, 210 min and 240 min and is represented as black bars for control and white bars for treatment. The data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation. P < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant
Figure 3
Figure 3
Insulin concentrations (a), C-peptide (b), and index of insulin sensitivity - M/I (c). Data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation and statistically significant at P < 0.05. The variability between the time points is expressed as mean ± 95% confidence interval
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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