Serum retinol binding protein 4 is related to insulin resistance and nonoxidative glucose metabolism in lean and obese women with normal glucose tolerance.
BACKGROUND
Retinol-binding protein (RBP) 4 is secreted by adipose tissue and is postulated to be a determinant of insulin sensitivity. The mechanisms of RBP4 insulin desensitizing action remain unclear.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to estimate the relationships between serum RBP4 concentration with insulin sensitivity and oxidative and nonoxidative glucose metabolism in lean and obese women.


METHODS
The study group consisted of 67 women with normal glucose tolerance, 27 lean and 40 overweight or obese. Insulin sensitivity was estimated with the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp. Glucose and lipid oxidation was measured with indirect calorimetry in the basal state and during the last 30 min of the clamp. Nonoxidative glucose metabolism was calculated in insulin-stimulated conditions by subtracting glucose oxidation from total glucose metabolism.


RESULTS
There was no difference in serum RBP4 concentration between lean and obese women. Serum RBP4 was inversely related to insulin sensitivity and nonoxidative glucose metabolism in the entire group (r = -0.36, P =0.003 in both cases) and within the subgroups of lean (r = -0.41, P =0.034 and r = -0.41, P =0.031) and obese women (r = -0.41, P =0.009 and r = -0.40, P =0.01, respectively). These relationships were independent of potential confounding factors. RBP4 levels were not associated with oxidative metabolism of glucose or lipid.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data indicate that serum RBP4 is related to decreased insulin sensitivity, mostly through its association with nonoxidative glucose metabolism.
Kowalska
Irina
I
Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology, and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Bialystok, M.C. Sklodowskiej 24a, Bialystok, Poland. irinak@poczta.onet.pl
Straczkowski
Marek
M
Adamska
Agnieszka
A
Nikolajuk
Agnieszka
A
Karczewska-Kupczewska
Monika
M
Otziomek
Elzbieta
E
Górska
Maria
M
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D054839:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma / Q000032:analysis*; D013851:Thinness / Q000378:metabolism*
C101326:RBP4 protein, human; D054839:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma; D005947:Glucose