Ectopic fat and aerobic fitness are key determinants of glucose homeostasis in non-obese Asians

Zhiling Chan; Cherlyn Ding; Yu Chung Chooi; John Choo; Suresh Anand Sadananthan; S Sasikala; Amanda Chang; Navin Michael; S Sendhil Velan; Melvin K-S Leow; Faidon Magkos

doi:10.1111/eci.13079

Ectopic fat and aerobic fitness are key determinants of glucose homeostasis in non-obese Asians

Zhiling Chan, Cherlyn Ding, Yu Chung Chooi, John Choo, Suresh Anand Sadananthan, S Sasikala, Amanda Chang, Navin Michael, S Sendhil Velan, Melvin K-S Leow, Faidon Magkos

Obesity Research

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: The importance of ectopic fat deposition and physical fitness in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and beta cell dysfunction in subjects from the nonobese Asians is not known. Materials and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study and measured insulin sensitivity (M value; 4-hour hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp), insulin secretion rate (3-hour mixed meal tolerance test with oral minimal modelling), percent body fat, visceral adipose tissue, intramyocellular and intrahepatic lipid contents (magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy), cardiorespiratory fitness (VO ₂ max; graded exercise test) and habitual physical activity (short International Physical Activity Questionnaire) in 60 healthy nonobese Asian subjects (BMI = 21.9 ± 1.7 kg/m ² , age = 41.8 ± 13.4 years). Results: M was inversely associated with percent body fat (r = −0.460, P < 0.001), visceral fat (r = −0.623, P < 0.001) and liver fat (r = −0.601, P < 0.001), whereas insulin secretion correlated positively with these adiposity indices (percent body fat: r = 0.303, P = 0.018; visceral fat: r = 0.409, P = 0.010; hepatic fat: r = 0.393, P = 0.002). VO ₂ max correlated negatively with insulin secretion rate (r = −0.420, P < 0.001) and positively with M (r = 0.658, P < 0.001). The amount of vigorous physical activity was positively associated with VO ₂ max (r = 0.682, P < 0.001). Multiple stepwise linear regression analyses indicated that VO ₂ max, age, and IHTG or VAT were independent determinants of insulin sensitivity and secretion (adjusted R ² = 69% and 33%, respectively, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Increased ectopic fat deposition is associated with reduced insulin sensitivity and increased insulin secretion in healthy nonobese Asians. Poor cardiorespiratory fitness, likely due to inadequate participation in vigorous exercise, is strongly related to suboptimal metabolic function. Interventions to encourage engagement in physical activity may thus be important for improving metabolic health in nonobese Asians.

Original language	English
Article number	e13079
Journal	European Journal of Clinical Investigation
Volume	49
Issue number	5
Number of pages	9
ISSN	0960-135X
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/eci.13079
Publication status	Published - May 2019

Keywords

Faculty of Science
Metabolic function
Diabetes
Fitness
Physical activity

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1111/eci.13079

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@article{5395a4c32ee741189f259995e492f66c,

title = "Ectopic fat and aerobic fitness are key determinants of glucose homeostasis in non-obese Asians",

abstract = " Background: The importance of ectopic fat deposition and physical fitness in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and beta cell dysfunction in subjects from the nonobese Asians is not known. Materials and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study and measured insulin sensitivity (M value; 4-hour hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp), insulin secretion rate (3-hour mixed meal tolerance test with oral minimal modelling), percent body fat, visceral adipose tissue, intramyocellular and intrahepatic lipid contents (magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy), cardiorespiratory fitness (VO 2 max; graded exercise test) and habitual physical activity (short International Physical Activity Questionnaire) in 60 healthy nonobese Asian subjects (BMI = 21.9 ± 1.7 kg/m 2 , age = 41.8 ± 13.4 years). Results: M was inversely associated with percent body fat (r = −0.460, P < 0.001), visceral fat (r = −0.623, P < 0.001) and liver fat (r = −0.601, P < 0.001), whereas insulin secretion correlated positively with these adiposity indices (percent body fat: r = 0.303, P = 0.018; visceral fat: r = 0.409, P = 0.010; hepatic fat: r = 0.393, P = 0.002). VO 2 max correlated negatively with insulin secretion rate (r = −0.420, P < 0.001) and positively with M (r = 0.658, P < 0.001). The amount of vigorous physical activity was positively associated with VO 2 max (r = 0.682, P < 0.001). Multiple stepwise linear regression analyses indicated that VO 2 max, age, and IHTG or VAT were independent determinants of insulin sensitivity and secretion (adjusted R 2 = 69% and 33%, respectively, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Increased ectopic fat deposition is associated with reduced insulin sensitivity and increased insulin secretion in healthy nonobese Asians. Poor cardiorespiratory fitness, likely due to inadequate participation in vigorous exercise, is strongly related to suboptimal metabolic function. Interventions to encourage engagement in physical activity may thus be important for improving metabolic health in nonobese Asians. ",

keywords = "Faculty of Science, Metabolic function, Diabetes, Fitness, Physical activity",

author = "Zhiling Chan and Cherlyn Ding and Chooi, {Yu Chung} and John Choo and Sadananthan, {Suresh Anand} and S Sasikala and Amanda Chang and Navin Michael and Velan, {S Sendhil} and Leow, {Melvin K-S} and Faidon Magkos",

note = "CURIS 2019 NEXS 076",

year = "2019",

month = may,

doi = "10.1111/eci.13079",

language = "English",

volume = "49",

journal = "European Journal of Clinical Investigation",

issn = "0960-135X",

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T1 - Ectopic fat and aerobic fitness are key determinants of glucose homeostasis in non-obese Asians

AU - Chan, Zhiling

AU - Ding, Cherlyn

AU - Chooi, Yu Chung

AU - Choo, John

AU - Sadananthan, Suresh Anand

AU - Sasikala, S

AU - Chang, Amanda

AU - Michael, Navin

AU - Velan, S Sendhil

AU - Leow, Melvin K-S

AU - Magkos, Faidon

N1 - CURIS 2019 NEXS 076

PY - 2019/5

Y1 - 2019/5

N2 - Background: The importance of ectopic fat deposition and physical fitness in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and beta cell dysfunction in subjects from the nonobese Asians is not known. Materials and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study and measured insulin sensitivity (M value; 4-hour hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp), insulin secretion rate (3-hour mixed meal tolerance test with oral minimal modelling), percent body fat, visceral adipose tissue, intramyocellular and intrahepatic lipid contents (magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy), cardiorespiratory fitness (VO 2 max; graded exercise test) and habitual physical activity (short International Physical Activity Questionnaire) in 60 healthy nonobese Asian subjects (BMI = 21.9 ± 1.7 kg/m 2 , age = 41.8 ± 13.4 years). Results: M was inversely associated with percent body fat (r = −0.460, P < 0.001), visceral fat (r = −0.623, P < 0.001) and liver fat (r = −0.601, P < 0.001), whereas insulin secretion correlated positively with these adiposity indices (percent body fat: r = 0.303, P = 0.018; visceral fat: r = 0.409, P = 0.010; hepatic fat: r = 0.393, P = 0.002). VO 2 max correlated negatively with insulin secretion rate (r = −0.420, P < 0.001) and positively with M (r = 0.658, P < 0.001). The amount of vigorous physical activity was positively associated with VO 2 max (r = 0.682, P < 0.001). Multiple stepwise linear regression analyses indicated that VO 2 max, age, and IHTG or VAT were independent determinants of insulin sensitivity and secretion (adjusted R 2 = 69% and 33%, respectively, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Increased ectopic fat deposition is associated with reduced insulin sensitivity and increased insulin secretion in healthy nonobese Asians. Poor cardiorespiratory fitness, likely due to inadequate participation in vigorous exercise, is strongly related to suboptimal metabolic function. Interventions to encourage engagement in physical activity may thus be important for improving metabolic health in nonobese Asians.

AB - Background: The importance of ectopic fat deposition and physical fitness in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and beta cell dysfunction in subjects from the nonobese Asians is not known. Materials and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study and measured insulin sensitivity (M value; 4-hour hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp), insulin secretion rate (3-hour mixed meal tolerance test with oral minimal modelling), percent body fat, visceral adipose tissue, intramyocellular and intrahepatic lipid contents (magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy), cardiorespiratory fitness (VO 2 max; graded exercise test) and habitual physical activity (short International Physical Activity Questionnaire) in 60 healthy nonobese Asian subjects (BMI = 21.9 ± 1.7 kg/m 2 , age = 41.8 ± 13.4 years). Results: M was inversely associated with percent body fat (r = −0.460, P < 0.001), visceral fat (r = −0.623, P < 0.001) and liver fat (r = −0.601, P < 0.001), whereas insulin secretion correlated positively with these adiposity indices (percent body fat: r = 0.303, P = 0.018; visceral fat: r = 0.409, P = 0.010; hepatic fat: r = 0.393, P = 0.002). VO 2 max correlated negatively with insulin secretion rate (r = −0.420, P < 0.001) and positively with M (r = 0.658, P < 0.001). The amount of vigorous physical activity was positively associated with VO 2 max (r = 0.682, P < 0.001). Multiple stepwise linear regression analyses indicated that VO 2 max, age, and IHTG or VAT were independent determinants of insulin sensitivity and secretion (adjusted R 2 = 69% and 33%, respectively, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Increased ectopic fat deposition is associated with reduced insulin sensitivity and increased insulin secretion in healthy nonobese Asians. Poor cardiorespiratory fitness, likely due to inadequate participation in vigorous exercise, is strongly related to suboptimal metabolic function. Interventions to encourage engagement in physical activity may thus be important for improving metabolic health in nonobese Asians.

KW - Faculty of Science

KW - Metabolic function

KW - Diabetes

KW - Fitness

KW - Physical activity

U2 - 10.1111/eci.13079

DO - 10.1111/eci.13079

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 30734926

SN - 0960-135X

VL - 49

JO - European Journal of Clinical Investigation

JF - European Journal of Clinical Investigation

IS - 5

M1 - e13079

ER -

Ectopic fat and aerobic fitness are key determinants of glucose homeostasis in non-obese Asians

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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