title: Obesity, body fat distribution, insulin sensitivity and Islet beta-cell function as explanations for metabolic diversity.
abstract: Studies of metabolic processes have been enhanced by our understanding of the relationships among obesity, body fat distribution, insulin sensitivity and islet beta-cell function. Thus, we have learned that although insulin resistance is usually associated with obesity, even lean subjects can be insulin resistant due to the accumulation of visceral fat. Insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function are also intimately linked. The hyperbolic relationship between these two parameters explains why insulin-resistant individuals have markedly enhanced insulin responses, whereas subjects who are insulin sensitive exhibit very low responses. Failure to take into account this relationship will lead to erroneous conclusions. By accounting for this important interaction, it has been clearly demonstrated that subjects at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes (older individuals, women with a history of gestational diabetes or polycystic ovary syndrome, subjects with impaired glucose tolerance and first-degree relatives of individuals with type 2 diabetes) have impaired beta-cell function. Furthermore, the progression from normal glucose tolerance to impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes is associated with declining insulin secretion.
authors.affiliation: Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Washington and Department of Veterans Affairs, Puget Sound Health Care, Seattle, WA 98108, USA. skahn@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Kahn
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Prigeon
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: W Y
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Knopp
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Brunzell
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Porte
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin