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Fat oxidation, body composition and insulin sensitivity in diabetic and normoglycaemic obese adults 5 years after weight loss

International Journal of Obesity volume 27, pages 1212–1218 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether normal glucose-tolerant and type II diabetic overweight adults differ in response to weight regain with regard to substrate oxidation and metabolic parameters.

METHODS: A total of 15 overweight-obese subjects: seven normal glucose tolerant (NGT) and eight with type II diabetes (DM) were restudied 5 y after significant weight loss. Prediet, after 28 days calorie restriction and at 5 y, subjects were characterised for weight, height, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and body composition by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Fasting glucose, insulin, leptin and lipid levels were measured and subjects underwent euglycaemic–hyperinsulinaemic clamp (insulin 0.25 U/kg/h for 150 min). Indirect calorimetry was performed resting and in the final 30 min of the clamp. Dietary assessment was by 4-day diet-diary.

RESULTS: Both NGT and DM groups regained weight at 5 y and were not different to prediet. Total body fat (%) and WHR were higher at 5 y compared to prediet in both groups. Fasting glucose was increased in NGT subjects at 5 y, and fasting insulin was higher in both groups at 5 y compared to prediet. Insulin sensitivity (GIR) was similar at 5 y compared to prediet, but at 5 y DM subjects were more insulin resistant than NGT subjects. At 5 y, both DM and NGT groups had significantly reduced basal fat oxidation and no significant suppression of fat oxidation with insulin. Clamp respiratory quotient levels at 5 y were significantly higher in NGT compared to DM subjects.

CONCLUSION: Reduced basal fat oxidation, and reduced variation in substrate oxidation in response to insulin develop with fat regain and fasting hyperinsulinaemia in both NGT and DM obese adults.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia. We wish to thank Joanna Edema and Lyn Croft for performing the metabolic assays, the nursing staff in the clinical facility at The Garvan Institute who assisted with clamp studies and the staff of the Nuclear Medicine Department, St Vincent's Hospital, who performed the DXA procedures. We especially thank the subjects who participated in the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, Australia

    A M Poynten, E L Maclean, S M Furler, J Freund & L V Campbell

  2. Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia

    T P Markovic

  3. St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia

    J Freund, D J Chisholm & L V Campbell

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  1. A M Poynten
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  2. T P Markovic
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  3. E L Maclean
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  4. S M Furler
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  6. D J Chisholm
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  7. L V Campbell
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Correspondence to A M Poynten.

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Poynten, A., Markovic, T., Maclean, E. et al. Fat oxidation, body composition and insulin sensitivity in diabetic and normoglycaemic obese adults 5 years after weight loss. Int J Obes 27, 1212–1218 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0802393

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