Muscle fat compartments and insulin sensitivity
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Muscle Fat Compartments and Turnover as Determinant of Insulin Sensitivity - The MISTY study.
IRAS ID
197227
Contact name
Dana Dawson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Aberdeen
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Summary\n\nHigher levels of triglycerides (TG) and diacylglycerols (DAG) are found in skeletal muscle of patients with obesity/diabetes as well as in trained athletes. Despite similar metabolic storage, patients an athletes have opposite insulin sensitivity phenotypes and an explanation for this is lacking. Our objective is to understand how these fat compartments can be beneficially modulated to improve insulin resistance and cardio-metabolic risk. we will investigate if either structural differences (saturated versus unsaturated balance of TG and DAG side-chains) or different handling abilities (fast versus slow lipid pool turnover) modulate changes in insulin sensitivity and signalling pathways. Insulin sensitivity changes will be induced by exercise capacity interventions in athletes and diabetic patients. in a longitudinal study pre- and post-exercise, we will use novel, non-invasive 1H Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy to benchmark the saturated/unsaturated compartments against skeletal muscle biopsies for the first time and stable isotope analysis for fat compartments’ rate of turnover. \n\nResults\n\n1. We demonstrated for the first time significant differences in the intramyocellular lipid amount and saturation between athletic healthy volunteers and type 2 diabetes patients in vivo.\n2. Intramyocellular lipid saturation was changed by exercise training in type 2 diabetes patients implying this may be an independent marker of improved cardio-metabolic health.\n3. Athletes were more insulin sensitive than T2DM patients at all times, however, the insulin sensitivity status improved in T2DM patients with exercise.
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 2
REC reference
16/NS/0024
Date of REC Opinion
22 Mar 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion