Insulin resistance - "the good or the bad and ugly".

Insulin resistance - "the good or the bad and ugly". Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2018 Dec 22;39(5):355-362 Authors: Szosland K, Lewinski A Abstract Insulin resistance (IR) is a state of decreased sensitivity or responsiveness of target tissues to metabolic actions of circulating insulin. IR can be selective, involving only certain aspects of insulin action, i.e. only its impact on hepatic glucose disposal. Plasma insulin concentration is a continuous variable, dependent upon several physiological stimuli, thus the thresholds used to diagnose IR are arbitrary. Insulin resistance (impaired insulin action) may occur due to derangements on three levels: pre-receptor (antibodies against insulin, defected insulin molecule), receptor (defects of insulin receptor, anti-receptor antibodies) and post-receptor (disregulated intracellular pathways). The aim of the study has been promoting the opinion that IR itself cannot be considered only a harmful phenomenon. Detrimental effect is rather chronic hyperinsulinemia related to IR. IR appears important physiological mechanism responsible for adaptation to various stresses: physical, as well as emotional/physiological. Diurnal, seasonal, age-related, pregnancy-associated, and illness-induced fluctuations in food intake and energy expenditure necessitate homeostatic versatility, including the capacity to vary insulin sensitivity, so as to optimize partitioning between tissues of a variable nutrient suppl...
Source: Neuroendocrinology Letters - Category: Endocrinology Tags: Neuro Endocrinol Lett Source Type: research