Zeitschrift für metabolisches Syndrom

Palmitoleic Acid Infusion Alters Circulating Glucose and Insulin Levels

Abstract

Long NM, Burns TA, Volpi Lagreca G, Alende M and Duckett SK

Objectives: The objectives of these studies are to evaluate: 1) uptake of a pulse dose of 13C16:1 cis-9 at varying levels into the blood and 2) glucose and insulin changes after pulse dose of 0 or 5 mg C16:1 cis-9/kg body weight (BW) under challenge conditions in obese lambs.

Methods: Two experiments were conducted to evaluate uptake of U-13C16:1 cis-9 into the blood and changes in glucose and insulin under challenges. In the first experiment, lambs (67.4 ± 1.4 kg BW, n=3) received jugular catheters and were used in a 3 x 3 Latin square. Treatments were 0, 2 or 5 mg/kg BW of U-13C16:1 cis-9 in 40% (wt/v) ethanol and blood samples were collected post infusion for glucose, fatty acid and insulin analyses. In the second experiment, lambs (86.7 ± 1.5 kg BW; n=4) received jugular catheters. Treatments were 0 or 5 mg/kg BW of C16:1 in 40% (wt/v) ethanol immediately followed by a glucose (0.25 g/kg) or insulin (0.02 mIU/kg) challenge.

Results: Both the 2 and 5 mg/kg BW dose of U-13C16:1 cis-9increased (P=0.003) C16:1 cis-9in serum compared to 0 mg/kg BW. The 5 mg/kg BW dose had a greater magnitude of increase for serum C16:1 and resulted in increased whole blood glucose levels for first 60 min and altered insulin levels for first 30 min. During the glucose tolerance test, C16:1bolus infusion increased (P=0.02) peak, overall, and area under the curve for plasma glucose levels. During the insulin challenge, C16:1-treated lambs had increased glucose levels (P=0.04) and peak, overall, and area under the curve plasma insulin (P=0.0001).

Conclusion: Palmitoleic acid infusion results in immediate uptake and clearance of serum palmitoleic acid, increases plasma glucose levels, and alters circulating insulin levels.