The pancreatic beta-cell response to intravenous administration of glucose in elderly subjects.

A study was made of the serum insulin level after the intravenous administration of glucose (0.33 gm/ kg) in two groups of normal subjects—18 in the 60–85 age bracket, and 16 in the 23–45 age bracket. All had a normal coefficient of glucose utilization and a normal blood glucose curve after intravenous administration of glucose. Serum insulin was assayed by the radio-immunological method, with use of an ion exchange resin. Blood samples were drawn at 2, 5, 10, 30, 45 and 60 minutes after the end of the glucose infusion. In the elderly subjects the maximal value was reached only after 5 minutes and the mean value was 39± 9 µU/ml (range, 27–50), whereas in the younger subjects the serum insul…