REGULAR HUMAN INSULIN SUBJECTED TO AGITATION: IS ITS HYPOGLYCEMIC IMPACT COMPROMISED?

Abstract

Investigate the effects of intense agitation on insulin stability and its hypoglycemic effect. Samples of regular insulin (Novolin® R100) were subjected to intense agitation for 15 minutes and analyzed using spectrophotometry and in vivo tests on Swiss mice. Turbidity measurements were conducted at various time points, and the agitated insulin was administered to mice to assess its effects on blood glucose levels. Despite the agitation, insulin retained its hypoglycemic effect in the in vivo experiments. Spectrophotometric assays showed a significant increase in absorbance over time (a 6.7-fold increase with the addition of bromophenol blue dye, p<0.05). However, the reduction in blood glucose levels in Swiss mice treated with agitated insulin was not significantly different from those treated with non-agitated insulin (p>0.05). These findings suggest that, despite potential conformational changes under agitation, insulin retains its hypoglycemic efficacy. This highlights the robustness of insulin’s stability. Further studies are recommended to investigate the long-term stability of insulin formulations to ensure optimal management of diabetes mellitus for both healthcare professionals and patients.