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Insulin-stimulated glucose uptake may improve with bariatric surgery
Regardless of diabetes status, bariatric surgery improves insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle and different fat compartments in patients with obesity, according to recent study findings.
However, insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in visceral fat was more impaired in the patients with diabetes compared with those without diabetes, according to the researchers.
Pirjo Nuutila, MD, PhD, of the University of Turku in Finland, and colleagues evaluated 23 patients with obesity (BMI, 43 kg/m2) to determine the effect of bariatric surgery on fat distribution and glucose uptake in different fat compartments. Nine participants had type 2 diabetes and 14 did not. Researchers also evaluated 10 lean patients as controls.
Participants with obesity were evaluated before and 6 months after surgery with MRI for fat distribution and PET for glucose uptake.
All participants with obesity had expanded fat depots at all locations and displayed insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, dyslipidemia and elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein as a marker of subclinical inflammation compared with controls. Visceral fat mass was larger (P < .01) and insulin resistance was worse (P < .03) in participants with obesity who had diabetes compared with those without diabetes.
After surgery, subcutaneous and visceral fat mass both decreased in all participants with obesity; however, visceral fat mass decreased more. Tissue-specific glucose uptake was improved in all participants with obesity, but not normalized.
“Our study confirms the metabolic variations in different fat compartments in obese patients,” the researchers wrote. “Bariatric surgery improves insulin-stimulated glucose in skeletal muscle and in different fat compartments of obese subjects independent of diabetes status.” – by Amber Cox
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.