Trials of rectal insulin suppositories in healthy humans

Abstract

Administration of an insulin suppository containing adjuvant such as sodium salicylate and l-phenylalanine enamine ethylacetoacetate (enamine) to healthy male human subjects increased serum immunoreactive insulin (IRI) levels significantly. However, to decrease serum glucose concentrations significantly in humans, high serum IRI levels have to be maintained for at least about one hour in humans, rather than being transient. In comparison with enamine, sodium salicylate seems to be feasible as adjuvant in the insulin suppository since its administration to human subjects resulted in high IRI serum levels for a period long enough to lower serum glucose concentrations significantly.