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Insulin Secretion in Bantu with Siderosis or Hepatoma


Elizabeth J.P. De Bruin

Abstract

The IR and concomitant GTC was evaluated in 10 siderotic Bantu patients and in 11 Bantu patients suffering from hepatoma. A normal IR was found in the siderotic Bantu, occurring, however, at much higher blood glucose levels than those of the control Bantu group. This relatively low IR is ascribed to impaired secretion of the ,β-cells, due most probably to significant low deposits in the pancreas. A similar relatively low IR in the presence of elevated blood glucose levels was found in the patients suffering from hepatoma. Their IR was furthermore delayed, possibly due to impaired destruction of insulin by the damaged liver. Since these patients were seemingly not siderotic, their relatively low IR apparently cannot be ascribed to iron deposits in the pancreas. It could, however, be due to exhaustion of the ,β-cells caused by the persistent hyperglycaemia observed in the patients -with hepatoma.


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eISSN: 2078-5135
print ISSN: 0256-9574