Effect of intravenous alanine on blood glucose, glucagon and growth hormone levels in diabetic children.

To study its glycaemic effect and to evaluate alpha cell function, L-alanine was administered intravenously (0.15 g/kg b.w.) to ketotic diabetic children. Their preinfusion condition was characterized by hyperglycaemia, elevated alanine, glucagon and growth hormone levels. Alanine failed to cause a further increase in the plasma glucagon level and had no glycaemic effect, but induced a consistent rise in plasma growth hormone. It is concluded that, in contrast with adult diabetics, alanine had no glycaemic effect and was not a potent alpha-cell secretagogue in ketotic diabetic children. The demonstrated growth-hormone provoking effect suggests that endogenous hyperalaninaemia may contribute to ketosis via the antiinsulin effect of growth hormone.