Abstract
Aims/hypothesis Increased NEFA levels, characteristic of type 2 diabetes mellitus, contribute to skeletal muscle insulin resistance. While NEFA-induced insulin resistance was formerly attributed to decreased glycolysis, it is likely that glucose transport is the rate-limiting defect. Recently, the plant-derived sugar alcohol xylitol has been shown to have favourable metabolic effects in various animal models. Furthermore, its derivative xylulose 5-phosphate may prevent NEFA-induced suppression of glycolysis. We therefore examined whether and how xylitol might prevent NEFAinduced insulin resistance. Methods We examined the ability of xylitol to prevent NEFA-induced insulin resistance. Sustained ∼1.5-fold elevations in NEFA levels were induced with Intralipid/heparin infusions during 5 h euglycaemic-hyperinsulinaemic clamp studies in 24 conscious non-diabetic Sprague-Dawley rats, with or without infusion of xylitol. Results Intralipid infusion reduced peripheral glucose uptake by ∼25%, predominantly through suppression of glycogen synthesis. Co-infusion of xylitol prevented the NEFAinduced decreases in both glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis. Although glycolysis was increased by xylitol infusion alone, there was minimal NEFA-induced suppression of glycolysis, which was not affected by co-infusion of xylitol. Conclusions/interpretation We conclude that xylitol prevented NEFA-induced insulin resistance, with favourable effects on glycogen synthesis accompanying the improved insulin-mediated glucose uptake. This suggests that this pentose sweetener has beneficial insulin-sensitising effects.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1808-1812 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Diabetologia |
Volume | 55 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 2012 |
Keywords
- Insulin resistance
- NEFA
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus
- Xylitol
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Internal Medicine
- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism