How to Measure Adipose Tissue Insulin Sensitivity?

A new article, published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (January 2017) by Danish Diabetes Academy Post Doc Esben Søndergaard, shows how to measure insulin sensitivity in adipose tissue.

ADIPOSE TISSUE INSULIN RESISTANCE MAY BE AN EARLY EVENT IN DEVELOPMENT OF TYPE 2 DIABETES

Adipose tissue release fatty acids, which may cause insulin resistance in muscle and liver by ectopic fat deposition (lipotoxicity). However, since no consensus exists on how to quantify adipose tissue insulin sensitivity, this is difficult to investigate. Therefore, this study compared methods for measuring adipose tissue insulin sensitivity ranging from the complex clamp techniques to the simple adipose tissue insulin resistance index (Adipo-IR).

ADIPO-IR CAN BE USED TO STUDY THE IMPACT OF INSULIN RESISTANCE IN ADIPOSE TISSUE

Adipo-IR is a good estimate of insulin sensitivity in adipose tissue and provides valid data compared to the complicated clamp technique. "This is good news, since this allows for measurement of adipose tissue insulin sensitivity in larger populations and for prospective studies", Esben Søndergaard concludes.

AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS 

Esben Søndergaard, Ana Elena Espinosa De Ycaza, Maria Morgan-Bathke, Michael D. Jensen

¹ Endocrine Research Unit, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
² Department of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus Denmark
³ The Danish Diabetes Academy
⁴ Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Panamá, Panama City, Republic of Panama
⁵ Nutrition and Dietetics, Viterbo University, La Crosse, WI, USA

Source:  The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (Epub ahead of print)