Effects of Acute Pinitol Supplementation on Plasma Pinitol Concentration, Whole Body Glucose Tolerance, and Activation of the Skeletal Muscle Insulin Receptor in Older Humans

Limited research with rodents and humans suggests that oral ingestion of pinitol (3-0-methyl-D-chiro-inositol) might positively influence glucose tolerance. This double-blinded, placebo-controlled, and cross-over study assessed the effects of acute pinitol supplementation on plasma pinitol concentration, glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, and activation of the skeletal muscle insulin receptor. Fifteen older, nondiabetic subjects (62 +/- 1 years, mean +/- SEM) completed four, 1-day trials. Subjects consumed a non-nutritive beverage with nothing (placebo) or 1000 mg pinitol. Sixty minutes later, the Subjects consumed beverages that were either energy- and carbohydrate-free (Sham) or contained 75g glucose (OGTT). Blood samples were collected frequently over the 240-min testing period. For the OGTT trials only, vastus lateralis samples were obtained before the placebo and pinitol supplementation and 60 min after consuming the 75g glucose beverage. Plasma pinitol concentration increased and was maintained for 240 min. Pinitol did not influence the fasting state and 180 min area under the curves for plasma glucose and insulin during the Sham and OGTT trials or hepatic (placebo 0.83 +/- 0.08; pinitol 0.80 +/- 0.08) and whole-body (placebo 6.10 +/- 0.54; pinitol 6.22 +/- 0.52) insulin sensitivities. Activation of the muscle insulin receptor was increased by 140% with glucose ingestion (Pre 0.62 +/- 0.12; Post 1.49 +/- 0.35), but pinitol did not influence this response. These results show that the pinitol supplement was quickly absorbed, but did not acutely influence indices of whole-body glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, or the activation of the skeletal muscle insulin receptor in older, nondiabetic humans.