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Journal ArticleDOI

Role of Insulin Resistance in Human Disease

01 Dec 1988-Diabetes (American Diabetes Association)-Vol. 37, Iss: 12, pp 1595-1607
TL;DR: The possibility is raised that resistance to insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and hyperinsulinemia are involved in the etiology and clinical course of three major related diseases— NIDDM, hypertension, and CAD.
Abstract: Resistance to insulin-stimulated glucose uptake is present in the majority of patients with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and in ∼25% of nonobese individuals with normal oral glucose tolerance. In these conditions, deterioration of glucose tolerance can only be prevented if the β-cell is able to increase its insulin secretory response and maintain a state of chronic hyperinsulinemia. When this goal cannot be achieved, gross decompensation of glucose homeostasis occurs. The relationship between insulin resistance, plasma insulin level, and glucose intolerance is mediated to a significant degree by changes in ambient plasma free-fatty acid (FFA) concentration. Patients with NIDDM are also resistant to insulin suppression of plasma FFA concentration, but plasma FFA concentrations can be reduced by relatively small increments in insulin concentration.Consequently, elevations of circulating plasma FFA concentration can be prevented if large amounts of insulin can be secreted. If hyperinsulinemia cannot be maintained, plasma FFA concentration will not be suppressed normally, and the resulting increase in plasma FFA concentration will lead to increased hepatic glucose production. Because these events take place in individuals who are quite resistant to insulinstimulated glucose uptake, it is apparent that even small increases in hepatic glucose production are likely to lead to significant fasting hyperglycemia under these conditions. Although hyperinsulinemia may prevent frank decompensation of glucose homeostasis in insulin-resistant individuals, this compensatory response of the endocrine pancreas is not without its price. Patients with hypertension, treated or untreated, are insulin resistant, hyperglycemic, and hyperinsulinemic. In addition, a direct relationship between plasma insulin concentration and blood pressure has been noted. Hypertension can also be produced in normal rats when they are fed a fructose-enriched diet, an intervention that also leads to the development of insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia. The development of hypertension in normal rats by an experimental manipulation known to induce insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia provides further support for the view that the relationship between the three variables may be a causal one. However, even if insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia are not involved in the etiology of hypertension, it is likely that the increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with hypertension and the fact that this risk if not reduced with antihypertensive treatment are due to the clustering of risk factors for CAD, in addition to high blood pressure, associated with insulin resistance. These include hyperinsulinemia, IGT, increased plasma triglyceride concentration, and decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration, all of which are associated with increased risk for CAD. It is likely that the same risk factors play a significant role in the genesis of CAD in the population as a whole. Based on these considerations the possibility is raised that resistance to insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and hyperinsulinemia are involved in the etiology and clinical course of three major related diseases— NIDDM, hypertension, and CAD.
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A WHO Consultation has taken place in parallel with a report by an American Diabetes Association Expert Committee to re‐examine diagnostic criteria and classification of diabetes mellitus and is hoped that the new classification will allow better classification of individuals and lead to fewer therapeutic misjudgements.
Abstract: The classification of diabetes mellitus and the tests used for its diagnosis were brought into order by the National Diabetes Data Group of the USA and the second World Health Organization Expert Committee on Diabetes Mellitus in 1979 and 1980. Apart from minor modifications by WHO in 1985, little has been changed since that time. There is however considerable new knowledge regarding the aetiology of different forms of diabetes as well as more information on the predictive value of different blood glucose values for the complications of diabetes. A WHO Consultation has therefore taken place in parallel with a report by an American Diabetes Association Expert Committee to re-examine diagnostic criteria and classification. The present document includes the conclusions of the former and is intended for wide distribution and discussion before final proposals are submitted to WHO for approval. The main changes proposed are as follows. The diagnostic fasting plasma (blood) glucose value has been lowered to > or =7.0 mmol l(-1) (6.1 mmol l(-1)). Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) is changed to allow for the new fasting level. A new category of Impaired Fasting Glycaemia (IFG) is proposed to encompass values which are above normal but below the diagnostic cut-off for diabetes (plasma > or =6.1 to or =5.6 to <6.1 mmol l(-1)). Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) now includes gestational impaired glucose tolerance as well as the previous GDM. The classification defines both process and stage of the disease. The processes include Type 1, autoimmune and non-autoimmune, with beta-cell destruction; Type 2 with varying degrees of insulin resistance and insulin hyposecretion; Gestational Diabetes Mellitus; and Other Types where the cause is known (e.g. MODY, endocrinopathies). It is anticipated that this group will expand as causes of Type 2 become known. Stages range from normoglycaemia to insulin required for survival. It is hoped that the new classification will allow better classification of individuals and lead to fewer therapeutic misjudgements.

15,167 citations


Cites background or methods from "Role of Insulin Resistance in Human..."

  • ...This clustering has been labelled variously as Syndrome X (22), the Insulin Resistance Syndrome (47), or the Metabolic Syndrome (47)....

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  • ...In 1988 Reaven focused attention on this cluster, naming it Syndrome X (22)....

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  • ...This group of people is at high risk of macrovascular disease (22)....

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  • ...IGT is often associated with the Metabolic Syndrome (Insulin Resistance Syndrome) (22)....

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  • ...Often a person with abnormal glucose tolerance (IGT or diabetes) will be found to have at least one or more of the other cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk components (22)....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It was deemed essential to develop an appropriate, uniform terminology and a functional, working classification of diabetes that reflects the current knowledge about the disease.
Abstract: the growth of knowledge regarding the etiology and pathogenesis of diabetes has led many individuals and groups in the diabetes community to express the need for a revision of the nomenclature, diagnostic criteria, and classification of diabetes. As a consequence, it was deemed essential to develop an appropriate, uniform terminology and a functional, working classification of diabetes that reflects the current knowledge about the disease. (1)

11,886 citations


Cites background from "Role of Insulin Resistance in Human..."

  • ...IFG and IGT are associated with the insulin resistance syndrome (also known as syndrome X or the metabolic syndrome), which consists of insulin resistance, compensatory hyperinsulinemia to maintain glucose homeostasis, obesity (especially abdominal or visceral obesity), dyslipidemia of the high-triglyceride and/or low-HDL type, and hypertension (124)....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This statement from the American Heart Association and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute is intended to provide up-to-date guidance for professionals on the diagnosis and management of the metabolic syndrome in adults.
Abstract: The metabolic syndrome has received increased attention in the past few years. This statement from the American Heart Association (AHA) and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is intended to provide up-to-date guidance for professionals on the diagnosis and management of the metabolic syndrome in adults. The metabolic syndrome is a constellation of interrelated risk factors of metabolic origin— metabolic risk factors —that appear to directly promote the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).1 Patients with the metabolic syndrome also are at increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. Another set of conditions, the underlying risk factors , give rise to the metabolic risk factors. In the past few years, several expert groups have attempted to set forth simple diagnostic criteria to be used in clinical practice to identify patients who manifest the multiple components of the metabolic syndrome. These criteria have varied somewhat in specific elements, but in general they include a combination of both underlying and metabolic risk factors. The most widely recognized of the metabolic risk factors are atherogenic dyslipidemia, elevated blood pressure, and elevated plasma glucose. Individuals with these characteristics commonly manifest a prothrombotic state and a pro-inflammatory state as well. Atherogenic dyslipidemia consists of an aggregation of lipoprotein abnormalities including elevated serum triglyceride and apolipoprotein B (apoB), increased small LDL particles, and a reduced level of HDL cholesterol (HDL-C). The metabolic syndrome is often referred to as if it were a discrete entity with a single cause. Available data suggest that it truly is a syndrome, ie, a grouping of ASCVD risk factors, but one that probably has more than one cause. Regardless of cause, the syndrome identifies individuals at an elevated risk for ASCVD. The magnitude of the increased risk can vary according to which components of the syndrome are …

9,982 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Although ATP III identified CVD as the primary clinical outcome of the metabolic syndrome, most people with this syndrome have insulin resistance, which confers increased risk for type 2 diabetes, when diabetes becomes clinically apparent, CVD risk rises sharply.
Abstract: The National Cholesterol Education Program’s Adult Treatment Panel III report (ATP III)1 identified the metabolic syndrome as a multiplex risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) that is deserving of more clinical attention. The cardiovascular community has responded with heightened awareness and interest. ATP III criteria for metabolic syndrome differ somewhat from those of other organizations. Consequently, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, in collaboration with the American Heart Association, convened a conference to examine scientific issues related to definition of the metabolic syndrome. The scientific evidence related to definition was reviewed and considered from several perspectives: (1) major clinical outcomes, (2) metabolic components, (3) pathogenesis, (4) clinical criteria for diagnosis, (5) risk for clinical outcomes, and (6) therapeutic interventions. ATP III viewed CVD as the primary clinical outcome of metabolic syndrome. Most individuals who develop CVD have multiple risk factors. In 1988, Reaven2 noted that several risk factors (eg, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hyperglycemia) commonly cluster together. This clustering he called Syndrome X , and he recognized it as a multiplex risk factor for CVD. Reaven and subsequently others postulated that insulin resistance underlies Syndrome X (hence the commonly used term insulin resistance syndrome ). Other researchers use the term metabolic syndrome for this clustering of metabolic risk factors. ATP III used this alternative term. It avoids the implication that insulin resistance is the primary or only cause of associated risk factors. Although ATP III identified CVD as the primary clinical outcome of the metabolic syndrome, most people with this syndrome have insulin resistance, which confers increased risk for type 2 diabetes. When diabetes becomes clinically apparent, CVD risk rises sharply. Beyond CVD and type 2 diabetes, individuals with metabolic syndrome seemingly are susceptible to other conditions, notably polycystic ovary syndrome, fatty liver, cholesterol gallstones, asthma, sleep disturbances, and some …

6,238 citations

References
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: For years investigators have sought an assay for insulin which would combine virtually absolute specificity with a high degree of sensitivity, sufficiently exquisite for measurement of the minute insulin concentrations usually present in the circulation as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: For years investigators have sought an assay for insulin which would combine virtually absolute specificity with a high degree of sensitivity, sufficiently exquisite for measurement of the minute insulin concentrations usually present in the circulation. Methods in use recently depend on the ability of insulin to exert an effect on the metabolism of glucose in vivo or in excised muscle or adipose tissue. Thus, the insulin concentration in plasma has been estimated: a) from the degree of hypoglycemia produced in hypophysectomized, adrenalectomized, alloxan-diabetic rats (1); b) from the augmentation of glucose uptake by isolated rat hemidiaphragm (2); or c) from the increased oxidation of glucose-1-C14 by the rat epididymal fat pad (3). Since there have been reports indicating the presence, in plasma, of inhibitors of insulin action (4) and of noninsulin substances capable of inducing an insulin-like effect (5,6), these procedures, while yielding interesting information regarding the effects of various plasmas on glucose metabolism in tissues, are of doubtful specificity for the measurement of insulin per se (5).

2,311 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Results provide preliminary evidence that essential hypertension is an insulin-resistant state and insulin resistance involves glucose but not lipid or potassium metabolism, is located in peripheral tissues but not the liver, is limited to nonoxidative pathways of intracellular glucose disposal, and is directly correlated with the severity of hypertension.
Abstract: High blood pressure is prevalent in obesity and in diabetes, both conditions with insulin resistance. To test whether hypertension is associated with insulin resistance independently of obesity and glucose intolerance, we measured insulin sensitivity (using the euglycemic insulin-clamp technique), glucose turnover (using [3H]glucose isotope dilution), and whole-body glucose oxidation (using indirect calorimetry) in 13 young subjects (38 +/- 2 years [+/- SEM]) with untreated essential hypertension (165 +/- 6/112 +/- 3 mm Hg), normal body weight, and normal glucose tolerance. In the postabsorptive state, all measures of glucose metabolism were normal. During steady-state euglycemic hyperinsulinemia (about 60 microU per milliliter), hepatic glucose production and lipolysis were effectively suppressed, and glucose oxidation and potassium disposal were normally stimulated. However, total insulin-induced glucose uptake was markedly impaired (3.80 +/- 0.32 vs. 6.31 +/- 0.42 mg per minute per kilogram of body weight in 11 age- and weight-matched controls, P less than 0.001). Thus, reduced nonoxidative glucose disposal (glycogen synthesis and glycolysis) accounted for virtually all the defect in overall glucose uptake (1.19 +/- 0.24 vs. 3.34 +/- 0.44 mg per minute per kilogram, P less than 0.001). Total glucose uptake was inversely related to systolic or mean blood pressure (r = 0.76 for both, P less than 0.001). These results provide preliminary evidence that essential hypertension is an insulin-resistant state. We conclude that this insulin resistance involves glucose but not lipid or potassium metabolism, is located in peripheral tissues but not the liver, is limited to nonoxidative pathways of intracellular glucose disposal, and is directly correlated with the severity of hypertension.

2,271 citations

01 Jan 1977
TL;DR: In this article, the correlation between coronary heart disease (CHD) prevalence and fasting lipid levels was assessed by case-control study infive populations with atotal of6859 men and women of black, Japanese and white ancestry drawn fromsubjects aged40 years andolder from populations inAlbany, Framingham, Evans County, Honolulu and San Francisco.
Abstract: SUMMARY Therelation between coronary heart disease (CHD) prevalence andfasting lipid levels wasassessed byacase-control study infive populations withatotal of6859menandwomenof black, Japanese andwhite ancestry drawnfromsubjects aged40 years andolder frompopulations inAlbany, Framingham, Evans County, Honolulu andSanFrancisco. Ineach major study group meanlevels ofhigh density lipoprotein (HDL)cholesterol werelower inpersons withCHD thaninthose DURING THE PASTTWO DECADES considerable progress hasbeenmadedelineating therole oftheplasma lipoproteins inthedevelopment ofcoronary heart disease (CHD). Interest hasfocused chiefly ontheverylowdensity andlowdensity lipoproteins (VLDLandLDL);there has beenrelatively little interest intherole ofthehighdensity lipoproteins (HDL), which ordinarily carry about 20%ofthe total plasma cholesterol. (Inelectrophoretic terms, HDL andLDLcorrespond toalpha andbeta, while VLDLcorresponds toprebeta.) Theneglect ofHDL cholesterol is curious since asearly as1951Barretal.reported that healthy menhadhigher levels ofalpha (orhighdensity) lipoprotein than didmenwith CHD.1This early observation wasconfirmed insubsequent cross-sectional studies;2-7 moreover, women,whohaveless CHD thanmen,were noted tohavehigher levels ofthis lipoprotein.5 TheCooperative Lipoprotein Phenotyping Study ofsubjects drawn fromepidemiologic studies offive diverse populations provides anexcellent databaseforexamining the role ofthevarious lipid fractions incoronary heart disease. Inthis report fasting levels ofHDL,LDL andtotal cholesterol, andtriglyceride arerelated toCHDprevalence. Methods

1,382 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The relation between coronary heart disease (CHD) prevalence and fasting lipid levels was assessed by a case-control study in five populations with a total of 6859 men and women of black, Japanese and white ancestry drawn from subjects aged 40 years and older from populations in Albany, Framingham, Evans County, Honolulu and San Francisco as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: The relation between coronary heart disease (CHD) prevalence and fasting lipid levels was assessed by a case-control study in five populations with a total of 6859 men and women of black, Japanese and white ancestry drawn from subjects aged 40 years and older from populations in Albany, Framingham, Evans County, Honolulu and San Francisco. In each major study group mean levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol were lower in persons with CHD than in those without the disease. The average difference was small -- typically 3-4 mg/dl -- but statistically significant. It was found in most age-race-sex specific groups. The inverse HDL cholesterol-CHD association was not appreciably diminished when adjusted for levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglyceride. LDL, totoal cholesterol and triglycerides were directly related to CHD prevalence; surprisingly, these findings were less uniformly present in the various study groups than the inverse HDL cholesterol-CHD association.

1,352 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Mar 1981-Diabetes
TL;DR: Insulin infusion increases sympathetic nervous system activity in the absence of changes in blood glucose in nonobese young men using glucose clamp techniques.
Abstract: Recent studies indicate a link between carbohydrate intake and the functional state of the sympathetic nervous system. Fasting or carbohydrate restriction decreases sympathetic activity, while glucose ingestion or dietary supplementation with sucrose increases sympathetic nerve activity. To examine the potential contributions of hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia to sympathetic stimulation, sympathetic activity was assessed by measurement of plasma norepinephrine (NE) levels and concomitant cardiovascular indices in nonobese young men during glucose and insulin infusions using glucose clamp techniques. In the insulin infusion studies (euglycemic glucose clamp), insulin was administered at 2 mU/kg/min and 5 mU/kg/min for 2 h while blood glucose was maintained at basal levels by a variable rate of glucose infusion. In the hyperglycemic studies, blood glucose was raised 125 mg/dl above basal and maintained at that level for 2h. In response to both insulin infusions, plasma NE rose progressively over the course of the study, increasing 50% with the 2-mU infusion (from mean basal value of 240 ± 34 pg/ml to 360 ± 41 at 150 min, P

1,182 citations

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