Glycerol production and utilization in humans: sites and quantitation

The relationship between splanchnic and renal glycerol balance and the rates of appearance (Ra) of glycerol in the circulation was analyzed in normal human subjects after fasting for 60 hours. The subjects exhibited 3.5-fold increase in the Ra of glycerol and enhanced glucose uptake in the splanchnic bed. However, glycerol uptake in the liver was not detected in the livers of the 60-hour fasted human subjects while fatty acid reesterification was detected only in nonsplanchnic tissues.