Serum bile acids and leptin interact with glucose metabolism in patients with liver cirrhosis

SummaryBackground & aimsWe investigated possible involvements of bile acids (BA) and leptin in hepatogenous insulin resistance being present in up to 90% of cirrhotic patients.MethodsBlood was analysed in 10 cirrhotic patients (8m/2f, 48 ± 10.4 yrs) and 10 controls (8m/2f, 43 ± 9.3 yrs) after oral nutrition and during 1 h of parenteral feeding. In patients, leptin was additionally analysed from mesenteric and arterial blood.ResultsCirrhosis patients showed typical signs of hepatogenous insulin resistance (hyperinsulinaemia, normoglycaemia, hyperglucagonaemia). Both fasting BA (r = .714, p = 0.047) and fasting leptin (r = .867, p = 0.001) correlated to HOMA and predicted insulin response after oral feeding (R²adj = .783, p = 0.002). But during parenteral nutrition only leptin predicted insulin response (p = 0.005). The prandial glucose response was negatively correlated to the BA increase after oral nutrition (r = −.733, p = 0.028) and to the change in leptin during parenteral nutrition (r = −.738, p = 0.037) pointing towards a nutritional route-dependent positive impact on glucose tolerance of both substances. Prandial glucagon response was correlated to BA under both feeding conditions (p < 0.05). We found no relevant intestinal release of leptin during fasting or feeding conditions.ConclusionOur results suggest a substantial involvement of BA and leptin by improving postprandial glucose tolerance related to liver cirrhosis.