The hot IVGTT two-compartment minimal model: indexes  of glucose effectiveness and insulin sensitivity.

A two-compartment minimal model (2CMM) has been proposed [A. Caumo and C. Cobelli. Am. J. Physiol. 264 ( Endocrinol. Metab. 27): E829-E841, 1993] to describe intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) labeled (hereafter hot) glucose kinetics. This model, at variance with the one-compartment minimal model (1CMM), allows the estimation of a plausible profile of glucose production. The aim of this study is to show that the 2CMM also allows the assessment of insulin sensitivity ([Formula: see text]), glucose effectiveness ([Formula: see text]), and plasma clearance rate (PCR). The 2CMM was identified on stable-isotope IVGTTs performed in normal subjects ( n = 14). Results were (means ± SE) [Formula: see text] = 0.85 ± 0.14 ml ⋅ kg-1 ⋅ min-1, PCR = 2.02 ± 0.14 ml ⋅ kg-1 ⋅ min-1, and [Formula: see text] = 13.83 ± 2.54 × 10-2ml ⋅ kg-1 ⋅ min-1 ⋅ μU-1 ⋅ ml. The 1CMM was also identified; glucose effectiveness and insulin sensitivity indexes were [Formula: see text]V = 1.36 ± 0.08 ml ⋅ kg-1 ⋅ min-1and [Formula: see text] V = 12.98 ± 2.21 × 10-2ml ⋅ kg-1 ⋅ min-1 ⋅ μU-1 ⋅ ml, respectively, where V is the 1CMM glucose distribution volume.[Formula: see text]V was lower than PCR and higher than [Formula: see text] and did not correlate with either [ r = 0.45 (NS) and r = 0.50 (NS), respectively], whereas [Formula: see text]V was not different from and was correlated with[Formula: see text]( r = 0.95; P < 0.001).[Formula: see text] compares well ( r = 0.78; P < 0.001) with PCR normalized by the 2CMM total glucose distribution volume. In conclusion, the 2CMM is a powerful tool to assess glucose metabolism in vivo.