The MetaboHealth Score Enhances Insulin Resistance Metabotyping for Targeted Fat Loss: The PERSON Study

Area of Science:

• Metabolic Health
• Nutrition Science
• Personalized Medicine

Background:

• Distinct muscle and liver insulin resistance (IR) metabotypes identified in adults.
• The MetaboHealth score predicts mortality, frailty, and cognitive decline risks.
• Previous research linked specific diets to benefits for muscle or liver IR groups.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the interaction between IR metabotypes and the MetaboHealth score.
• To determine effects on cardiometabolic health and body composition in IR adults.
• To inform precision nutrition strategies for insulin resistance.

Main Methods:

• 242 adults (40-75 years) with IR randomized to low-fat/high-protein/high-fiber or high-monounsaturated fatty acid diets for 12 weeks.
• 184 participants with complete data categorized into MetaboHealth tertiles (higher score = poorer health).
• Oral glucose tolerance tests and DXA scans assessed outcomes; linear mixed models analyzed interactions.

Main Results:

• No significant interactions found for cardiometabolic outcomes.
• Significant interactions observed for android/gynoid fat, total fat percentage, and fat mass index.
• In the healthiest MetaboHealth tertile, matched diets yielded greater fat loss; in the poorest tertile, diets were similarly effective.

Conclusions:

• Combining IR metabotype and MetaboHealth score enhances personalized dietary strategies for fat loss.
• This approach offers a more refined method for targeting nutrition in insulin-resistant populations.
• Further research can validate these findings for broader clinical application.