A Study on the Role of Insulin and Altered Glycemic State in the Gossypin Induced Delay in Small Intestinal Transit Possible Mechanisms

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to investigate the presence of any cause-effect relationship between changes in the glycemic status and small intestinal motility. The crux of this idea originated from an earlier indepth study wherein an association between changes in blood glucose level and anti-nociceptive response was proposed under physiological conditions with supporting evidences. The present findings attributing hyperinsulinemia responsible for hypomotility when considered together with the earlier reported suggestion that similar elevation in serum insulin level contributing to the antinociceptive response, undoubtedly projects insulinemic status in diabetes mellitus as a responsible factor for the associated diabetic neuropathy and gastrointestinal disturbances. It is imperative at this stage to recommend measurement of serum insulin level along with other battery of tests while screening diabetes mellitus patients. Possibly detection of modified insulin status without any glycemic alteration could even indicate the proneness of an individual to the chronic disease diabetes mellitus. This may be a slightly modified approach to the management of diabetes mellitus instead of only aiming a glycemic control (metabolic parameter). Maintenance of physiological insulinemic conditions might not only render effective control of the disease but also avert the alarming diabetic neuropathy and gastrointestinal disturbances associated with this disease. Gossypin, almost a nontoxic polyphenolic substance having insulinomimetic responses without any effect on the glycemic status could be investigated in detail as an adjuvant nutrient in the diabetic food and also in the management of the disease for achieving effective therapy. By virtue of its inherent antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, antiulcer and insulin like functions, gossypin is emerging as a safe and potential agent for clinical trial. newline