Subcutaneous adipose tissue insulin resistance is associated with visceral adiposity in postmenopausal women

Abstract

ObjectiveWe determined whether whole body and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) insulin resistance was proportional to regional fat mass (FM).Design and MethodsWe studied postmenopausal women (Mean±SD; age 56±4 y, n=25) who were overweight or obese (BMI 29.9±5.1 kg/m2). Whole body and regional FM were measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and computed tomography (CT). Women were studied during basal and insulin-stimulated (3-stage euglycemic clamp) conditions. Whole-body lipolysis was assessed by [2H5]glycerol rate of appearance and abdominal and femoral SAT lipolysis by interstitial glycerol (microdialysis).ResultsWhole body insulin resistance in skeletal muscle (insulin-stimulated glucose disposal) and adipose tissue (insulin-suppressed lipolysis) were independently related to trunk FM (r=−0.336 and 0.484, respectively), but not leg FM (r=−0.142 and −0.148, respectively). Local antilipolytic insulin resistance in abdominal, but not femoral, SAT was positively related to trunk FM (r=0.552) and visceral FM (r=0.511) but not related to leg FM (r=−0.289). Whole body and abdominal, but not femoral, adipose tissue insulin sensitivity were strongly related to skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity (r=−0.727 and −0.674, respectively).ConclusionsThe association of SAT insulin sensitivity (lipolysis) with adiposity and skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity is specific to the abdominal region.