Effects of weight loss on visceral and abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue blood-flow and insulin-mediated glucose uptake in healthy obese subjects.
OBJECTIVE
Rapid weight loss with very-low-calorie diet (VLCD) is known to improve insulin sensitivity and decrease adipose tissue masses. The aim was to investigate the effects of VLCD on adipose tissue regional glucose uptake (rGU) and perfusion and their association with adipokines.


METHODS
Sixteen healthy obese (body mass index 33+/-1.1 kg/m(2)) subjects underwent VLCD for 6 weeks. RGU and perfusion were measured using [(18)F]-fluoro-deoxy-glucose, [(15)O]H(2)O and positron emission tomography.


RESULTS
Blood-flow and rGU expressed per gram of adipose tissue were higher in visceral fat compared to abdominal subcutaneous fat (P<0.01 for both). Dieting decreased weight by 11+/-0.9 kg (P<0.0001). Visceral adipose fat decreased by 25% (P<0.001) and abdominal subcutaneous fat by 16% (P<0.001). Whole body insulin sensitivity increased by 33% (P<0.01). Perfusion of both fat depots decreased (P<0.001), while rGU remained unchanged. Among the adipokines, leptin and interleukin-6 levels seemed to be associated with abdominal subcutaneous and intra-abdominal adipose tissue insulin resistance but not with adipose tissue perfusion.


CONCLUSIONS
Abdominal adipose tissue perfusion and rGU are not related in obesity. Rapid weight loss decreases perfusion through adipose tissue depots but has no influence on rGU demonstrating the 'sink' role of adipose tissue.
Turku PET Centre, University of Turku, Turku University Hospital, Finland.
Antti P M
AP
Viljanen
Riikka
R
Lautamäki
Mikko
M
Järvisalo
Riitta
R
Parkkola
Risto
R
Huupponen
Terho
T
Lehtimäki
Tapani
T
Rönnemaa
Olli T
OT
Raitakari
Patricia
P
Iozzo
Pirjo
P
Nuutila
D050153:Abdominal Fat / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D031204:Caloric Restriction; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism*; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D015850:Interleukin-6; D020738:Leptin