insulinogenic

Insulinogenic is an adjective used in physiology and nutrition to describe substances or conditions that stimulate the secretion of insulin by pancreatic beta cells. It is commonly used to refer to dietary components, meals, or pharmacological agents that provoke an insulin response beyond baseline.

The term is closely tied to how the body responds to nutrients. Glucose strongly triggers insulin release, while amino acids from protein can also stimulate insulin secretion, partly through incretin hormones such as GLP-1 and GIP. Fats may modulate the insulin response, and the overall insulinogenic effect of a meal depends on the combination of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and individual metabolic factors. Foods with high glycemic index or glycemic load are often described as more insulinogenic because they raise blood glucose rapidly and provoke a larger early insulin response.

Measurement of insulinogenic response is used in research and clinical assessment. A common concept is the insulinogenic index, calculated from an oral glucose tolerance test as (insulin at 30 minutes minus fasting insulin) divided by (glucose at 30 minutes minus fasting glucose). This index estimates the early insulin secretory response relative to glucose rise and is used to evaluate beta-cell function and insulin sensitivity, particularly in studies of diabetes risk and dietary interventions.

Caution is warranted in interpretation, as a higher insulin response does not necessarily indicate better metabolic health and can reflect insulin resistance or compensatory beta-cell activity. Related concepts include insulinotropic effects, incretin action, and glycemic response.