glucose + insulin + potassium (Yonsei University)

This glucose-insulin-potassium (GIK) solution is a metabolic support therapy investigated by Yonsei University for myocardial protection in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing urgent multivessel off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery. The specific formulation used in Phase 4 clinical trials (NCT01384656) consists of 80 mEq of potassium and 325 IU of regular insulin in 500 ml of 50% glucose, administered intravenously. GIK therapy works by shifting myocardial metabolism from the oxidation of free fatty acids to the more oxygen-efficient oxidation of glucose, thereby reducing ischemic injury, improving energy use efficiency, and exerting anti-apoptotic effects on the myocardium. Clinical results have demonstrated that this formulation significantly reduces myocardial injury markers such as creatine kinase-MB and troponin-T compared to saline controls.

Other names

GIK solutionGlucose-insulin-potassium solution