The impact of a modified carbohydrate formula, and its constituents, on glycaemic control and inflammatory markers: A nested mechanistic sub-study

Background Hyperglycaemia occurs frequently in the critically ill. Dietary intake of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), specifically N epsilon-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML), may exacerbate hyperglycaemia through perturbation of insulin sensitivity. The present study aimed to determine whether the use of nutritional formulae, with varying AGE loads, affects the amount of insulin administered and inflammation. Methods Exclusively tube fed patients (n = 35) were randomised to receive Nutrison Protein Plus Multifibre (R), Diason (R) or Glucerna Select (R). Insulin administration was standardised according to protocol based on blood glucose (<10 mmol L-1). Samples were obtained at randomisation and 48 h later. AGEs in nutritional formula, plasma and urine were measured using mass spectrometry. Plasma inflammatory markers were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and multiplex bead-based assays. Results AGE concentrations of CML in nutritional formulae were greatest with delivery of Nutrison Protein Plus (R) (mean [SD]; 6335 pmol mol(-1) [2436]) compared to Diason (R) (4836 pmol mol(-1) [1849]) and Glucerna Select (R) (4493 pmol mol(-1) [1829 pmol mol(-1)]) despite patients receiving similar amounts of energy (median [interquartile range]; 12 MJ [8.2-13.7 MJ], 11.5 MJ [8.3-14.5 MJ], 11.5 MJ [8.3-14.5 MJ]). More insulin was administered with Nutrison Protein Plus (R) (2.47 units h(-1) [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.57-3.37 units h(-1)]) compared to Diason (R) (1.06 units h(-1) [95% CI = 0.24-1.89 units h(-1)]) or Glucerna Select (R) (1.11 units h(-1) [95% CI = 0.25-1.97 units h(-1)]; p = 0.04). Blood glucose concentrations were similar. There were associations between greater insulin administration and reductions in circulating interleukin-6 (r = -0.46, p < 0.01), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (r = -0.44, p < 0.05), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (r = -0.42, p < 0.05) and soluble receptor for advanced glycation end-products (r = -0.45, p < 0.01) concentrations. Conclusions The administration of greater AGE load in nutritional formula potentially increases the amount of insulin required to maintain blood glucose within a normal range during critical illness. There was an inverse relationship between exogenous insulin and plasma inflammatory markers.