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  • Original Article
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Higher incremental insulin area under the curve during oral glucose tolerance test predicts less food intake and weight gain

International Journal of Obesity volume 35, pages 1495–1501 (2011)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective:

To investigate the correlation of peripheral insulin concentrations with food intake and body weight.

Design:

Cross sectional and longitudinal clinical study: we investigated the association of peripheral insulin concentrations in response to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) with subsequent measures of ad libitum food intake and body weight change.

Subjects:

Food intake analysis: Pima Indians (n=67, 63% male; body mass index (mean±s.d.) 34.2±9.4 kg m−2) with normal glucose regulation (NGR; fasting glucose <5.6 mmol l−1 and 2-h glucose <7.8 mmol l−1) participated in a study of ad libitum food intake measured over 3 days by an automated vending machine system. Weight change analysis: Pima Indians with NGR (n=339) who also participated in a longitudinal study of risks for type 2 diabetes and had follow-up weights.

Results:

Food intake analysis: incremental area under the curve (iAUC) for insulin during the OGTT was negatively associated with mean daily ad libitum energy intake (DEI) (r=−0.26, P=0.04), calories consumed as percent weight-maintenance energy needs (%WMEN) (r=−0.38, P=0.002) and carbohydrate intake (gram per day) (r=−0.35, P=0.005). Adjustment for age and sex attenuated the association of iAUC with DEI (P=0.06) not with %WMEN and carbohydrate intake (P=0.005, P=0.008). Weight change analysis: after adjustment for age, sex, follow-up time and initial body weight, higher insulin iAUC predicted less absolute and percent weight change (β=−6.9, P=0.02; β=−0.08, P=0.008, respectively).

Conclusions:

In healthy Pima Indians with NGR, higher plasma iAUC during an OGTT predicted lower food intake and carbohydrate consumption and less weight gain. These data indicated a role for peripheral insulin as a negative feedback signal in the regulation of energy intake and body weight.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the dietary, nursing and technical staff of the Clinical Research Unit of the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Disease in Phoenix, AZ for their assistance. Most of all, we thank the volunteers for their participation in the study. The authors responsibilities were as follows—SBV and JK: study design; JYH: menu planning; JYH and CAV: data collection; JYH and JK: data analysis; JYH, SBV and JK: study manuscript composition; JYH: manuscript preparation. All authors helped to prepare the manuscript for submission. Funding for the study was via the NIDDK intra-mural research program. This study was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the NIH, NIDDK.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health and Human Services, Phoenix Epidemiology and Clinical Research Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Phoenix, AZ, USA

    J He, S Votruba, C Venti & J Krakoff

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  1. J He
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Correspondence to J He.

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He, J., Votruba, S., Venti, C. et al. Higher incremental insulin area under the curve during oral glucose tolerance test predicts less food intake and weight gain. Int J Obes 35, 1495–1501 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2011.13

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