Even though there was more adrenaline in the blood during insulin infusion, the body wasn’t clearing it out slower — meaning the increase was because the nerves were releasing more, not because the body was holding onto it.
Scientific Claim
In nonobese young men, insulin infusion at 2 mU/kg/min for 2 hours during euglycemic glucose clamp does not alter norepinephrine clearance, indicating that increased plasma norepinephrine levels are due to increased release rather than reduced removal.
Original Statement
“The clearance of NE in three subjects was unaffected by the 2-mU insulin infusion.”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
appropriately stated
Study Design Support
Design cannot support claim
Appropriate Language Strength
association
Can only show association/correlation
Assessment Explanation
The abstract states the finding neutrally ('was unaffected'), and the small sample size (n=3) limits generalizability but does not overstate causation. The verb strength is appropriate.
More Accurate Statement
“In nonobese young men, insulin infusion at 2 mU/kg/min for 2 hours during euglycemic glucose clamp is not associated with altered norepinephrine clearance, indicating that increased plasma norepinephrine levels are likely due to increased release rather than reduced removal.”
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
Effect of Insulin and Glucose Infusions on Sympathetic Nervous System Activity in Normal Man
Insulin made the body release more norepinephrine (a stress chemical), but didn’t slow down how fast the body cleared it—so the increase happened because the body made more, not because it stopped removing it.