Longitudinal compensation for fat-induced insulin resistance includes reduced insulin clearance and enhanced beta-cell response.

Central adiposity is highly correlated with insulin resistance, which is an important risk factor for type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases. However, in normal individuals, central adiposity can be tolerated for many years without development of impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes. Here we examine longitudinally the mechanisms by which glucose tolerance can be maintained in the face of substantial insulin resistance. Normal dogs were fed a diet enriched with moderate amounts of fat (2 g x kg(-1) x day(-1)), similar to that seen in modern "cafeteria" diets, and the time course of metabolic changes in these animals was examined over 12 weeks. Trunk adiposity as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging increased from 12 to 19%, but body weight remained unchanged. Insulin sensitivity (SI) as determined by frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance tests was measured over a 12-week period. SI decreased 35% by week 1 and remained impaired for the entire 12 weeks. Intravenous glucose tolerance was reduced transiently for 1 week, recovered to baseline, and then again began to decline after 8 weeks. First-phase insulin response began to increase after week 2, peaked by week 6 (190% of basal), and then declined. The increase in insulin response was due partially to enhanced beta-cell function (22%) but due also to an approximately 50% reduction in insulin clearance. This compensation by insulin clearance was also confirmed with insulin clamps performed in fat-fed versus control dogs. The present study confirms the ability of the normal individual to compensate for fat-induced insulin resistance by enhanced insulin response, such that the product of insulin sensitivity x secretion is little changed. However, the compensation is due as much to reduced insulin clearance as increased beta-cell sensitivity to glucose. Reduced hepatic extraction of insulin may be the first line of defense providing a higher proportion of secreted insulin to the periphery and sparing the beta-cells during compensation for the insulin-resistant state.