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Published on: November 16, 2011
Insulin sensitivity in Familial Multiple Lipomatosis
M D'Ettorre1, D Gniuli, C Guidone
1Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Catholic University, Rome, Italy. marco.dettorre@hotmail.it.
European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences
|July 30, 2013
Summary
Familial Multiple Lipomatosis (FML) patients with localized fat accumulation do not exhibit insulin resistance. These findings suggest that isolated subcutaneous fat excess may correlate with enhanced insulin sensitivity.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Metabolic Disorders
- Genetics
Background:
- Familial Multiple Lipomatosis (FML) is a rare, autosomal dominant condition characterized by benign fatty tumors.
- Obesity and lipodystrophy are linked to insulin resistance, a key metabolic dysfunction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate insulin sensitivity in patients with FML, a condition involving regional subcutaneous adipose tissue excess.
- To determine if localized fat accumulation, as seen in FML, is associated with insulin resistance.
Main Methods:
- Metabolic studies were conducted on four brothers diagnosed with FML.
- Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) were performed, with insulin sensitivity assessed using the oral glucose insulin sensitivity index (OGIS).
- Control group comprised eight obese, non-diabetic individuals matched for BMI, age, and sex.
Main Results:
- All FML patients demonstrated normal glucose tolerance.
- Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels were within the normal range for all participants.
- Patients with FML showed normal insulin sensitivity, contrary to expectations.
Conclusions:
- Isolated subcutaneous fat accumulation, as observed in FML, is not inherently linked to insulin resistance.
- This condition may even be associated with a relatively high degree of insulin sensitivity.
- FML serves as a model to understand the relationship between fat distribution and metabolic health.
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