Dose-dependent effect of insulin on plasma free fatty acid turnover and oxidation in humans

1990 ◽  
Vol 259 (5) ◽  
pp. E736-E750 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. Bonadonna ◽  
L. C. Groop ◽  
K. Zych ◽  
M. Shank ◽  
R. A. DeFronzo

Methodology for measuring plasma free fatty acid (FFA) turnover/oxidation with [1–14C]palmitate was tested in normal subjects. In study 1, two different approaches (720-min tracer infusion without prime vs. 150-min infusion with NaH14CO3 prime) to achieve steady-state conditions of 14CO2 yielded equivalent rates of plasma FFA turnover/oxidation. In study 2, during staircase NaH14CO3 infusion, calculated rates of 14CO2 appearance agreed closely with NaH14CO3 infusion rates. In study 3, 300-min euglycemic insulin clamp documented that full biological effect of insulin on plasma FFA turnover/oxidation was established within 60–120 min. In study 4, plasma insulin concentration was raised to 14 +/- 2, 23 +/- 2, 38 +/- 2, 72 +/- 5, and 215 +/- 10 microU/ml. A dose-dependent insulin suppression of plasma FFA turnover/oxidation was observed. Plasma FFA concentration correlated positively with plasma FFA turnover/oxidation in basal and insulinized states. Total lipid oxidation (indirect calorimetry) was significantly higher than plasma FFA oxidation in the basal state, suggesting that intracellular lipid stores contributed to whole body lipid oxidation. Hepatic glucose production and total glucose disposal showed the expected dose-dependent suppression and stimulation, respectively, by insulin. In conclusion, insulin regulation of plasma FFA turnover/oxidation is maximally manifest at low physiological plasma insulin concentrations, and in the basal state a significant contribution to whole body lipid oxidation originates from lipid pool(s) that are different from plasma FFA.

2019 ◽  
Vol 126 (6) ◽  
pp. 1563-1571 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob Frandsen ◽  
Stine Dahl Vest ◽  
Christian Ritz ◽  
Steen Larsen ◽  
Flemming Dela ◽  
...  

Plasma free fatty acids (FFA) are a major contributor to whole body fat oxidation during exercise. However, the extent to which manipulating plasma FFA concentrations will influence whole body peak fat oxidation rate (PFO) during exercise remains elusive. In this study we aimed to increase plasma FFA concentrations through a combination of fasting and repeated exercise bouts. We hypothesized that an increase in plasma FFA concentration would increase PFO in a dose-dependent manner. Ten healthy young (31 ± 6 yr) (mean ± SD) well-trained (maximal oxygen uptake 65.9 ± 6.1 ml·min−1·kg−1) men performed four graded exercise tests (GXTs) on 1 day. The GXTs were interspersed by 4 h of bed rest. This was conducted either in a fasted state or with the consumption of a standardized carbohydrate-rich meal 3.5 h before each GXT. Fasting and previous GXTs resulted in a gradual increase in PFO from 0.63 ± 0.18 g/min after an overnight fast (10 h) to 0.93 ± 0.17 g/min after ∼22 h of fasting and three previous GXTs. This increase in PFO coincided with an increase in plasma FFA concentrations ( r2 = 0.73, P < 0.0001). Ingestion of a carbohydrate-rich meal 3.5 h before each GXT resulted in unaltered PFO. This was also reflected in unchanged plasma FFA, glucose, and insulin concentrations. In this study we show that plasma FFA availability is closely tied to whole body PFO and that the length of fasting combined with previous exercise are robust stimuli toward increasing plasma FFA concentration, highlighting the importance for preexercise standardization when conducting GXTs measuring substrate oxidation. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We show that peak fat oxidation is increased in close relationship with plasma free fatty acid availability after combined fasting and repeated incremental exercise tests in healthy highly trained men. Therefore it may be argued that whole body fat oxidation rate measured in most cases after an overnight fast indeed does not represent whole body maximal fat oxidation rate but a whole body peak fat oxidation rate within the context of the preexercise standardization obtained in the study design.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob Frandsen ◽  
Axel Illeris Poggi ◽  
Christian Ritz ◽  
Steen Larsen ◽  
Flemming Dela ◽  
...  

Introduction: In men, whole body peak fat oxidation (PFO) determined by a graded exercise test is closely tied to plasma free fatty acid (FFA) availability. Men and women exhibit divergent metabolic responses to fasting and exercise, and it remains unknown how the combined fasting and exercise affect substrate utilization in women. We aimed to investigate this, hypothesizing that increased plasma FFA concentrations in women caused by fasting and repeated exercise will increase PFO during exercise. Then, that PFO would be higher in women compared with men (data from a previous study).Methods: On two separate days, 11 young endurance-trained women were investigated, either after an overnight fast (Fast) or 3.5 h after a standardized meal (Fed). On each day, a validated graded exercise protocol (GXT), used to establish PFO by indirect calorimetry, was performed four times separated by 3.5 h of bed rest both in the fasted (Fast) or fed (Fed) state.Results: Peak fat oxidation increased in the fasted state from 11 ± 3 (after an overnight fast, Fast 1) to 16 ± 3 (mean ± SD) mg/min/kg lean body mass (LBM) (after ~22 h fast, Fast 4), and this was highly associated with plasma FFA concentrations, which increased from 404 ± 203 (Fast 1) to 865 ± 210 μmol/L (Fast 4). No increase in PFO was found during the fed condition with repeated exercise. Compared with trained men from a former identical study, we found no sex differences in relative PFO (mg/min/kg LBM) between men and women, in spite of significant differences in plasma FFA concentrations during exercise after fasting.Conclusion: Peak fat oxidation increased with fasting and repeated exercise in trained women, but the relative PFO was similar in young trained men and women, despite major differences in plasma lipid concentrations during graded exercise.


1993 ◽  
Vol 85 (5) ◽  
pp. 525-535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luigi S. Brandi ◽  
Donatella Santoro ◽  
Andrea Natali ◽  
Fiorella Altomonte ◽  
Simona Baldi ◽  
...  

1. Stress is associated with a severe, yet reversible, form of insulin resistance. The aim of this study was to quantify the kinetics of insulin action (sensitivity and responsiveness) on intermediary metabolism during post-surgical stress. 2. We studied nine patients 6–8 h after major uncomplicated surgery, and eight healthy subjects matched for age, weight, glucose tolerance and duration of fast. A three-step isoglycaemic insulin clamp was combined with indirect calorimetry, [6-3H]glucose infusion and the forearm technique. 3. The following significant (P <0.05 or less) abnormalities were found in the patients. Hepatic glucose production was higher at baseline, and less suppressed by insulin. Whole-body glucose disposal was impaired at all insulin doses (by 33–60%). Glucose oxidation was depressed throughout the dose range but its increments in response to insulin were normal. In contrast, non-oxidative glucose disposal was essentially unresponsive. At all insulin levels, forearm glucose extraction was markedly depressed and forearm lactate release was in excess of concurrent glucose uptake, suggesting ongoing glycogenolysis despite insulin. Total lipolysis (plasma free fatty acid and glycerol levels) promptly responded to insulin but remained higher than in the control subjects throughout. In the forearm, even the highest insulin dose could not suppress net free fatty acid and glycerol release. Total lipid oxidation was increased throughout the insulin range, and calculated direct free fatty acid (as opposed to plasma free fatty acid) oxidation was virtually unaffected by insulin. Protein oxidation was slightly (35%) increased, but was suppressed normally in response to insulin. Energy expenditure was 20% higher at baseline, and tailed to rise with insulin. Arterial blood pH values were consistently (if slightly) lower, and net forearm proton release was higher, both at baseline and daring insulin infusion. 4. Post-surgical unsulin resistance is characterized by normal sensitivity but decreased responsiveness of glucose oxidation, lipolysis and plasma free fatty acid oxidation, whereas glycogen synthesis and direct free fatty acid oxidation are virtually unresponsive. For both glucose and lipid metabolism, the insulin resistance is particularly severe in forearm tissues, in which mild metabolic acidosis may play an additional role.


1992 ◽  
Vol 263 (1) ◽  
pp. E79-E84 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. C. Groop ◽  
R. C. Bonadonna ◽  
D. C. Simonson ◽  
A. S. Petrides ◽  
M. Shank ◽  
...  

The dose-response relationship between the plasma insulin concentration and oxidative and nonoxidative pathways of free fatty acid (FFA) metabolism was examined in 11 obese and 7 lean subjects using a stepwise insulin clamp technique in combination with indirect calorimetry and infusion of [1-14C]palmitate. The fasting plasma FFA concentration was elevated in obese subjects (793 +/- 43 vs. 642 +/- 39 mumol/l; P less than 0.01) and was associated with an increased basal rate of plasma FFA turnover, FFA oxidation, and nonoxidative FFA disposal, i.e., reesterification (all P less than 0.01). Suppression of plasma FFA turnover by physiological increments in plasma insulin was impaired in obese compared with lean subjects. However, plasma FFA turnover expressed per kilogram fat mass was normally suppressed by insulin in obese subjects. Although insulin suppressed plasma FFA oxidation to the same extent in lean and obese subjects, inhibition of total lipid oxidation by insulin was impaired in the obese group. Obese subjects had an enhanced basal rate of nonoxidative FFA disposal, which was suppressed less by physiological increments in plasma insulin compared with lean controls. Therefore, we conclude that 1) lipolysis in uncomplicated obesity is normally sensitive to insulin; the enhanced FFA flux is simply a consequence of the increased fat mass. 2) Nonoxidative FFA disposal expressed per lean body mass is enhanced in obese subjects and correlates with the increase in plasma FFA concentration and fat mass. 3) Enhanced oxidation of intracellular lipids contributes to the enhanced rate of total lipid oxidation in obese subjects.


1993 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 293-296 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Lavoie ◽  
J. Bongbele ◽  
S. Cardin ◽  
M. Belisle ◽  
J. Terrettaz ◽  
...  

The effect of exercise training on the insulin suppression of plasma free fatty acid (FFA) concentrations was studied in unanesthetized rats with the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp technique. Seven rats trained (TR) for 3 h/day by continuous swimming during 8 wk were compared with 6 untrained (UT) body weight-matched rats. Both TR and UT rats were submitted to an exercise swimming session 18 h before the clamp. A smaller mean diameter of adipocytes sampled from the epididymal fat depot was measured in TR animals. The total quantity of glucose infused to maintain euglycemia was 2.2 times higher in TR than in UT animals. No significant differences in plasma insulin concentrations were found between the two groups throughout the experiment. Insulin infusions resulted in a 60% decrease of plasma FFA in TR rats (mean value: from 0.46 to 0.18 mM) compared with 27% in UT animals (mean value: from 0.45 to 0.33 mM). The data indicate a greater ability of insulin to suppress plasma FFA levels with exercise training, which suggests an increased antilipolytic action of insulin in adipocytes under this condition.


1971 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
pp. 394-398 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. D. Wagner ◽  
R. A. Peterson ◽  
R. J. Cenedella

Plasma free fatty acid (FFA) levels and the effects of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) were studied in cold-acclimated and cold-exposed chickens and compared to controls. Chickens cold-acclimated at 4–7 or 8–11 °C for 4 weeks had significantly elevated plasma FFA when compared to the controls at 19–21 °C. Although PGE1 had no effect on the basal level of FFA of controls, a significantly lower plasma FFA was seen after injection of either 10 or 30 μg PGE1/kg in cold-acclimated chickens. Chickens cold-exposed to 2–3 °C for 4 h demonstrated significant elevations of plasma FFA when compared to controls. Only 30 μg PGE1/kg significantly depressed the plasma FFA in the cold-exposed birds. No inhibition of basal FFA release was seen in control animals. From these experiments, it is concluded that chickens mobilize FFA extensively under cold-exposure and that this stimulated lipolysis is inhibited by PGE1.


2004 ◽  
Vol 287 (1) ◽  
pp. E120-E127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J. Watt ◽  
Anna G. Holmes ◽  
Gregory R. Steinberg ◽  
Jose L. Mesa ◽  
Bruce E. Kemp ◽  
...  

Intramuscular triacylglycerols (IMTG) are proposed to be an important metabolic substrate for contracting muscle, although this remains controversial. To test the hypothesis that reduced plasma free fatty acid (FFA) availability would increase IMTG degradation during exercise, seven active men cycled for 180 min at 60% peak pulmonary O2 uptake either without (CON) or with (NA) prior ingestion of nicotinic acid to suppress adipose tissue lipolysis. Skeletal muscle and adipose tissue biopsy samples were obtained before and at 90 and 180 min of exercise. NA ingestion decreased ( P < 0.05) plasma FFA at rest and completely suppressed the exercise-induced increase in plasma FFA (180 min: CON, 1.42 ± 0.07; NA, 0.10 ± 0.01 mM). The decreased plasma FFA during NA was associated with decreased ( P < 0.05) adipose tissue hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) activity (CON: 13.9 ± 2.5, NA: 9.1 ± 3.0 nmol·min−1·mg protein−1). NA ingestion resulted in decreased whole body fat oxidation and increased carbohydrate oxidation. Despite the decreased whole body fat oxidation, net IMTG degradation was greater in NA compared with CON (net change: CON, 2.3 ± 0.8; NA, 6.3 ± 1.2 mmol/kg dry mass). The increased IMTG degradation did not appear to be due to reduced fatty acid esterification, because glycerol 3-phosphate activity was not different between trials and was unaffected by exercise (rest: 0.21 ± 0.07; 180 min: 0.17 ± 0.04 nmol·min−1·mg protein−1). HSL activity was not increased from resting rates during exercise in either trial despite elevated plasma epinephrine, decreased plasma insulin, and increased ERK1/2 phosphorylation. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)α1 activity was not affected by exercise or NA, whereas AMPKα2 activity was increased ( P < 0.05) from rest during exercise in NA and was greater ( P < 0.05) than in CON at 180 min. These data suggest that plasma FFA availability is an important mediator of net IMTG degradation, and in the absence of plasma FFA, IMTG degradation cannot maintain total fat oxidation. These changes in IMTG degradation appear to disassociate, however, from the activity of the key enzymes responsible for synthesis and degradation of this substrate.


1999 ◽  
Vol 86 (6) ◽  
pp. 2097-2105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne L. Friedlander ◽  
Gretchen A. Casazza ◽  
Michael A. Horning ◽  
Anton Usaj ◽  
George A. Brooks

We examined the effects of exercise intensity and a 10-wk cycle ergometer training program [5 days/wk, 1 h, 75% peak oxygen consumption (V˙o 2 peak)] on plasma free fatty acid (FFA) flux, total fat oxidation, and whole body lipolysis in healthy male subjects ( n= 10; age = 25.6 ± 1.0 yr). Two pretraining trials (45 and 65% ofV˙o 2 peak) and two posttraining trials (same absolute workload, 65% of oldV˙o 2 peak; and same relative workload, 65% of newV˙o 2 peak) were performed by using an infusion of [1-13C]palmitate and [1,1,2,3,3-2H]glycerol. An additional nine subjects (age 25.4 ± 0.8 yr) were treated similarly but were infused with [1,1,2,3,3-2H]glycerol and not [1-13C]palmitate. Subjects were studied postabsorptive for 90 min of rest and 1 h of cycling exercise. After training, subjects increasedV˙o 2 peak by 9.4 ± 1.4%. Pretraining, plasma FFA kinetics were inversely related to exercise intensity with rates of appearance (Ra) and disappearance (Rd) being significantly higher at 45 than at 65%V˙o 2 peak(Ra: 8.14 ± 1.28 vs. 6.64 ± 0.46, Rd: 8.03 ± 1.28 vs. 6.42 ± 0.41 mol ⋅ kg−1 ⋅ min−1) ( P ≤ 0.05). After training, when measured at the same absolute and relative intensities, FFA Ra increased to 8.84 ± 1.1, 8.44 ± 1.1 and Rd to 8.82 ± 1.1, 8.35 ± 1.1 mol ⋅ kg−1 ⋅ min−1, respectively ( P ≤ 0.05). Total fat oxidation determined from respiratory exchange ratio was elevated during exercise compared with rest, but did not differ among the four conditions. Glycerol Ra was elevated during exercise compared with rest but did not demonstrate significant intensity or training effects during exercise. Thus, in young men, plasma FFA flux is increased during exercise after endurance training, but total fat oxidation and whole-body lipolysis are unaffected when measured at the same absolute or relative exercise intensities.


1988 ◽  
Vol 254 (6) ◽  
pp. E694-E699 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. Keller ◽  
P. P. Gerber ◽  
W. Stauffacher

To investigate whether elevated plasma insulin or glucagon concentrations are capable of modifying hepatic ketogenesis independently of plasma free fatty acid (FFA) concentrations, ketone body production was determined by [3–14C]acetoacetate infusions in overnight-fasted normal subjects during exogenous supply of FFA (Intralipid and heparin infusion). When plasma FFA concentrations were elevated from 0.73 +/- 0.07 to 1.53 +/- 0.16 mmol/l during low insulin concentrations (approximately equal to 13 microU/ml) in group A (n = 7), total ketone body production increased from 3.6 +/- 0.6 to 8.2 +/- 1.0 mumol.kg-1.min-1 (P less than 0.001). When plasma FFA were similarly elevated during raised plasma insulin concentrations (approximately equal to 110 microU/ml) in group B (n = 5), total ketone body production was only 3.8 +/- 0.8 mumol.kg-1.min-1 (P less than 0.01 vs. group A). Low plasma FFA and low insulin concentrations resulted in total ketone body production of 0.70 +/- 0.18 mumol.kg-1.min-1 in group C (n = 7; P less than 0.01 vs. groups A and B). Elevation of plasma glucagon during Intralipid infusion in group D (n = 7) failed to affect ketogenesis, but the beta-hydroxybutyrate-to-acetoacetate concentration ratio decreased significantly (P less than 0.01). The data indicate that elevation of plasma insulin to high physiological concentrations restrains FFA-induced ketogenesis.


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