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Glucose Tolerance in Depression

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Brenda Herzberg ,
Alec Coppen  and
Vincent Marks
Brenda Herzberg
Affiliation:
M.R.C. Neuropsychiatric Research Unit, Carshalton, and West Park Hospital, Epsom, Surrey
Alec Coppen
Affiliation:
M.R.C. Neuropsychiatric Research Unit, Carshalton, and West Park Hospital, Epsom, Surrey
Vincent Marks
Affiliation:
Area Laboratory, Epsom, Surrey
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Extract

There have been many reports which suggest that there may be abnormal glucose metabolism in severe depression. Glycosuria was first reported nearly 60 years ago (Allers, 1914). In 1919, using an oral glucose tolerance test, Kooy observed decreased tolerance in a heterogeneous group of mentally ill patients which included melancholics. Since then many investigators have reported decreased glucose tolerance in depressive illness, and the extensive literature is reviewed by McFarland and Goldstein (1939) and Altschule (1953). Oral glucose tolerance tests have usually shown high or delayed peaks and a slow return to fasting levels, although the latter are usually reported normal. Intravenous glucose tolerance tests have also shown results nearer those obtained in diabetic patients than in normal subjects. Pryce (1958) reported decreased glucose tolerance with intravenous tests in a sample of 20 depressed patients, and he also found that glucose tolerance did not alter significantly after clinical recovery. Glucose supplements were added to the diet of six patients prior to testing, but he concluded that these supplements did not appear to alter glucose tolerance.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 114 , Issue 510 , May 1968 , pp. 627 - 630
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1968 

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References

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