Insulin secretion and insulin resistance determined by euglycemic clamp

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Endocrinology
• Metabolic Disorders
• Child Health

Background:

• Childhood obesity is a growing concern, associated with various metabolic dysfunctions.
• Exogenous obesity in children presents significant health risks, necessitating investigation into metabolic alterations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate glucose metabolism alterations in children with exogenous obesity.
• To compare insulin and C-peptide levels and glucose sensitivity between obese and non-obese children.

Main Methods:

• Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) to assess glucose metabolism and insulin response.
• Euglycemic glucose clamp technique to measure glucose metabolism (M value) and insulin sensitivity.
• Comparison of basal and stimulated insulin and C-peptide levels between 47 obese and 20 non-obese children.

Main Results:

• Obese children showed significantly higher fasting (26.7 vs 10.99 microIU/ml) and postprandial insulin levels (70.4 vs 22.23 microIU/ml) (p < 0.001).
• Seven obese children had impaired OGTT results based on WHO criteria.
• The euglycemic glucose clamp revealed significantly lower glucose metabolism (M value) in obese children (3.24 vs 6.525 mg/kg/min) (p < 0.001), indicating insulin resistance.

Conclusions:

• Obese children exhibit hyperinsulinism and impaired glucose metabolism.
• Childhood obesity is a significant risk factor for developing hyperinsulinism and insulin resistance.
• Early identification and intervention for metabolic risks in obese children are crucial.