This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bisschop, P. H. Articles by Romijn, J. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Bisschop, P. H. Articles by Romijn, J. A.

The Effects of Carbohydrate Variation in Isocaloric Diets on Glycogenolysis and Gluconeogenesis in Healthy Men¹

Departments of Endocrinology and Metabolism (P.H.B., A.M.P.A., H.P.S.) Clinical Chemistry (M.T.A., E.E.), and Biochemistry (A.J.M.), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, 1100 DE Amsterdam; Center for Liver, Digestive, and Metabolic Diseases, Academic Hospital Groningen (F.K.), 9713 GZ Groningen; and Departments of Internal Medicine (H.P.) and Endocrinology (P.H.B., J.A.R.), Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: P. H. L. T. Bisschop, M.D., Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism (F5), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 22700, 1100 DE Amsterdam, The Netherlands. E-mail: p.h.bisschop{at}amc uva.nl.

To evaluate the effect of dietary carbohydrate content on postabsorptive glucose metabolism, we quantified gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis after 11 days of high carbohydrate (85% carbohydrate), control (44% carbohydrate), and very low carbohydrate (2% carbohydrate) diets in six healthy men. Diets were eucaloric and provided 15% of energy as protein. Postabsorptive glucose production was measured by infusion of [6,6-²H₂]glucose, and fractional gluconeogenesis was measured by ingestion of ²H₂O. Postabsorptive glucose production rates were 13.0 ± 0.7, 11.4 ± 0.4, and 9.7 ± 0.4 µmol/kg·min after high carbohydrate, control, and very low carbohydrate diets, respectively (P < 0.001 among the three diets). Gluconeogenesis was about 14% higher after the very low carbohydrate diet (6.3 ± 0.2 µmol/kg·min; P = 0.001) compared to the control diet, but was not different between the high carbohydrate and control diets (5.5 ± 0.3 vs. 5.5 ± 0.2 µmol/kg·min). The rates of glycogenolysis were 7.5 ± 0.5, 5.9 ± 0.3, and 3.4 ± 0.3 µmol/kg·min, respectively (P < 0.001 among the three diets).

We conclude that under eucaloric conditions in healthy subjects, dietary carbohydrate content affects the rate of postabsorptive glucose production mainly by modulation of glycogenolysis. In contrast, dietary carbohydrate content affects the postabsorptive rate of gluconeogenesis minimally, as evidenced by only a slight increase in gluconeogenesis during severe carbohydrate restriction.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. C Westman, R. D Feinman, J. C Mavropoulos, M. C Vernon, J. S Volek, J. A Wortman, W. S Yancy, and S. D Phinney Low-carbohydrate nutrition and metabolism Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, August 1, 2007; 86(2): 276 - 284. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Allick, S. N. van der Crabben, M. T. Ackermans, E. Endert, and H. P. Sauerwein Measurement of gluconeogenesis by deuterated water: the effect of equilibration time and fasting period Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, June 1, 2006; 290(6): E1212 - E1217. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. P. Harber, S. Schenk, A. L. Barkan, and J. F. Horowitz Alterations in carbohydrate metabolism in response to short-term dietary carbohydrate restriction Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, August 1, 2005; 289(2): E306 - E312. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. P. Stein and C. E. Wade Metabolic Consequences of Muscle Disuse Atrophy J. Nutr., July 1, 2005; 135(7): 1824S - 1828S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Allick, P. H. Bisschop, M. T. Ackermans, E. Endert, A. J. Meijer, F. Kuipers, H. P. Sauerwein, and J. A. Romijn A Low-Carbohydrate/High-Fat Diet Improves Glucoregulation in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus by Reducing Postabsorptive Glycogenolysis J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., December 1, 2004; 89(12): 6193 - 6197. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. C. Gannon and F. Q. Nuttall Effect of a High-Protein, Low-Carbohydrate Diet on Blood Glucose Control in People With Type 2 Diabetes Diabetes, September 1, 2004; 53(9): 2375 - 2382. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. H Bisschop, R. H. Bandsma, F. Stellaard, A. ter Harmsel, A. J Meijer, H. P Sauerwein, F. Kuipers, and J. A Romijn Low-fat, high-carbohydrate and high-fat, low-carbohydrate diets decrease primary bile acid synthesis in humans Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, April 1, 2004; 79(4): 570 - 576. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. H. Bisschop, M. G. M. de Sain-van der Velden, F. Stellaard, F. Kuipers, A. J. Meijer, H. P. Sauerwein, and J. A. Romijn Dietary Carbohydrate Deprivation Increases 24-Hour Nitrogen Excretion without Affecting Postabsorptive Hepatic or Whole Body Protein Metabolism in Healthy Men J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., August 1, 2003; 88(8): 3801 - 3805. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. T. Ackermans, A. M. Pereira Arias, P. H. Bisschop, E. Endert, H. P. Sauerwein, and J. A. Romijn The Quantification of Gluconeogenesis in Healthy Men by 2H2O and [2-13C]Glycerol Yields Different Results: Rates of Gluconeogenesis in Healthy Men Measured with 2H2O Are Higher Than Those Measured with [2-13C]Glycerol J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., May 1, 2001; 86(5): 2220 - 2226. [Abstract] [Full Text]