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Rates of lipid fluxes in adipose tissue in vivo after a mixed meal in morbid obesity

International Journal of Obesity volume 34, pages 770–774 (2010)Cite this article

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Abstract

Objective:

Although insulin resistance in obesity is established, information on insulin action on lipid fluxes, in morbid obesity, is limited. This study was undertaken in morbidly obese women to investigate insulin action on triacylglycerol fluxes and lipolysis across adipose tissue.

Subjects and Design:

A meal was given to 26 obese (age 35±1years, body mass index 46±1 kg m–2) and 11 non-obese women (age 38±2years, body mass index 24±1 kg m–2). Plasma samples for glucose, insulin, triglycerides and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) were taken for 360 min from a vein draining the abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue and from the radial artery. Adipose tissue blood flow was measured with 133Xe.

Results:

In obese vs non-obese: (1) Arterial glucose was similar, but insulin was increased (P=0.0001). (2) Adipose tissue blood flow was decreased (P=0.0001). (3) Arterial triglycerides (P=0.0001) and NEFAs (P=0.01) were increased. (4) Lipoprotein lipase was decreased (P=0.0009), although the arteriovenous triglyceride differences were similar. (5) Veno-arterial NEFA differences across the adipose tissue were similar. (6) NEFA fluxes and hormone-sensitive lipase-derived glycerol output from 100 g adipose tissue were not different. (7) Total adipose tissue NEFA release was increased (P=0.02).

Conclusions:

In morbid obesity: (a) hypertriglycerinemia could be attributed to a defect in the postprandial dynamic adjustment of triglyceride clearance across the adipose tissue, partly caused by blunted BF; and (b) postprandially, there is an impairment of adipose tissue to buffer NEFA excess, despite hyperinsulinemia.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Chr Zervogiani, BS, and A Triantafylopoulou for technical support and V Frangaki, RN, for help with experiments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hellenic National Center for Research, Prevention and Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus and its Complications, Athens, Greece (H.N.D.C)

    P Mitrou, E Maratou & S A Raptis

  2. Second Department of Internal Medicine, Research Institute and Diabetes Center, Athens University Medical School, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece

    E Boutati, V Lambadiari, N Tountas, T Economopoulos, S A Raptis & G Dimitriadis

  3. Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Evangelismos Hospital, Athens, Greece

    V Komesidou

  4. First Department of Surgery, Evangelismos Hospital, Athens, Greece

    A Papakonstantinou

  5. Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopion University, Athens, Greece

    L Sidossis

  6. Evgenidion Hospital, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece

    N Katsilambros

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  1. P Mitrou
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  2. E Boutati
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  3. V Lambadiari
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Correspondence to G Dimitriadis.

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Mitrou, P., Boutati, E., Lambadiari, V. et al. Rates of lipid fluxes in adipose tissue in vivo after a mixed meal in morbid obesity. Int J Obes 34, 770–774 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2009.293

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2009.293

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