Cited by 597Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and LipoproteinsAdipose Tissue and MetabolismLipid metabolism and biosynthesis

Effects of Acute Changes of Plasma Free Fatty Acids on Intramyocellular Fat Content and Insulin Resistance in Healthy Subjects

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Boden, Guenther, Lebed, Brett, Schatz, Melanie, Homko, Carol, Lemieux, Susan·2001·Diabetes

Abstract

The reason for the 3- to 4-h delay between a rise in plasma free fatty acid (FFA) levels and the development of insulin resistance remains unknown. In the current study, we have tested the hypothesis that the delay may be caused by the need for plasma FFAs to first enter muscle cells and to be re-esterified there before causing insulin resistance. To this end, we have determined intramyocellular triglyceride (IMCL-TG) content with proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) spectroscopy in healthy volunteers before and 4 h after lowering of plasma FFAs (with euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamping) or after increasing plasma FFAs (with lipid plus heparin infusions). Increasing plasma FFAs (from 516 to 1,207 μmol/l or from 464 to 1,857 μmol/l, respectively) was associated with acute increases in IMCL-TG from 100 to 109 ± 5% (P < 0.05) or to 133 ± 11% (P < 0.01), respectively, and with a significant increase in insulin resistance (P < 0.05 after 3.5 h). Lowering of plasma FFAs from 560 to 41 μmol/l was associated with a tendency for IMCL-TG to decrease (from 100 to 95 ± 3%). Changes in plasma FFAs correlated linearly with IMCL-TG (r = 0.74, P < 0.003). The demonstration that acute changes in plasma FFAs were accompanied by corresponding changes in IMCL-TG and with the development of insulin resistance, taken together with previous reports of a close correlation between IMCL-TG and insulin resistance, supported the notion that accumulation of IMCL-TG is a step in the development of FFA-induced insulin resistance.

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  • Increasing plasma free fatty acid concentration in insulin-sensitive individuals increases intramyocellular fat content.

    “(iii) the increase in insulin resistance caused by elevating the plasma FFA concentration in insulin sensitive individuals is associated with an increase in the intramyocellar fat content [74];”

    From Pathogenesis of insulin resistance in skeletal muscle (2010) · cites this paper as [74]

  • Acute rises in circulating NEFA in healthy people cause or are linked to insulin resistance.

    “Acute elevation in circulating NEFA levels in healthy individuals has been linked to insulin resistance in multiple investigations [10–13].”

    From Sleep restriction increases free fatty acids in healthy men (2015) · cites this paper as [10]

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Authors
Boden, G., Lebed, B., Schatz, M., Homko, C., & Lemieux, S.
Affiliations
  • Division of Endocrinology/Diabetes/Metabolism, the General Clinical Research Center, and the
  • Temple University (US)
Venue
Diabetes
Published
2001-07-01
Volume
50
Issue
7
Pages
1612-1617
ISSN
  • 0012-1797 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-327X
OpenAlex
W2112375566
Cited by
597
References
41
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 27 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 23 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 29
FWCI
27.16
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Diabetes (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5r01ag007988-10, 5r01aa010221-03)
  • National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (R01-AA-10221)
  • National Institute on Aging (R01-AG07988)
  • National Center for Research Resources (RR-349)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biochemistry › Lipid metabolism and biosynthesis
Keywords
plasma free fatty acids, intramyocellular triglyceride, insulin resistance, fatty acid re-esterification, lipid infusion, heparin, healthy volunteers
MeSH terms
Adipose Tissue, Adult, Blood Glucose, Body Composition, Calorimetry, Indirect, Fatty Acids, Nonesterified, Female, Humans, Insulin, Insulin Resistance, Male, Muscles, Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Oxidation-Reduction, Reference Values, Triglycerides

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