title: Adipose tissue distribution in relation to insulin sensitivity and inflammation in Pakistani and Norwegian subjects with type 2 diabetes.
abstract: Immigrants from South Asia to Western countries have a high prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) associated with obesity. We investigated the relationship between diabetes and adipose tissue distribution in a group of younger T2DM subjects from Norway and Pakistan. Eighteen immigrant Pakistani and 21 Norwegian T2DM subjects (age 29-45, 49% men) were included. They underwent anthropometrical measurements including bioelectrical impedance analysis, CT scans measuring fatty infiltration in liver and adipose and muscle tissue compartments in mid-abdomen and thigh, a euglycemic clamp, and blood samples for serum insulin and plasma glucose, adipokines and inflammation markers. Adipose tissue distribution was similar in Norwegians and Pakistanis. Pakistanis, but not Norwegians, showed a negative correlation between insulin sensitivity and visceral adipose tissue (VAT, rs = - 0.704, p = 0.003). Subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) correlated to leptin in both Pakistanis and Norwegians (rs = 0.88, p < 0.001 and 0.67, p = 0.001). SAT also correlated to C-reactive protein (CRP) in the Pakistanis only (rs = 0.55, p = 0.03), and superficial SAT to Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) in Norwegians only (rs = 0.47, p = 0.04). In conclusion, despite similar adipose tissue distribution in the two groups Pakistanis were more insulin resistant, with a negative correlation of VAT to insulin sensitivity, not present in Norwegians. The correlation of adipose tissue to Leptin, CRP and IL-1RA showed ethnic differences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Morbid Obesity and Preventive Medicine.
authors.forename: Cecilie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wium
authors.forename: Heidi B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Eggesbø
authors.forename: Thor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ueland
authors.forename: Annika E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Michelsen
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Torjesen
authors.forename: Pål
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aukrust
authors.forename: Kåre
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Birkeland
mesh_terms: D050153:Abdominal Fat / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D054392:Adipokines / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology; D009664:Norway; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010154:Pakistan / Q000208:ethnology; D011859:Radiography
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators
keywords: Anthropometry; C-reactive protein; Interleukin 1 receptor antagonist; Leptin; Southern Asia; X-ray computed; human; immigrants; insulin resistance; subcutaneous adipose tissue; tomography; visceral adipose tissue