IMMUNOASSAYABLE GASTRIC INHIBITORY POLYPEPTIDE - INVESTIGATIONS INTO ITS ROLE IN CARBOHYDRATE-METABOLISM

Endogenous GIP secretion has been shown in certain situations to be of relevance in stimulating insulin secretion in man. However, while the carbohydrate stimuli for GIP secretion have been elucidated to a certain extent, the mechanism of feedback control remains less clear. GIP may well play a role in the pathology of some hyperinsulinaemic states in man, including obesity and peripheral vascular disease. The gut is now regarded as a major endocrine organ, and future investigation into gastrointestinal hormones promises to be a rewarding field of study.