TOPLINE:
A study found that higher insulin sensitivity is associated with a decrease in lean mass loss during weight loss.
METHODOLOGY:
- Researchers conducted a 16-week controlled feeding study involving adults with overweight or obesity.
- The study included 57 participants with a baseline body mass index of 32.1 ± 3.8 kg/m2 .
- Participants were assigned to either a standard (55% carbohydrate) or reduced carbohydrate diet (43% carbohydrate). Both groups consumed 18% protein.
- Body composition was assessed via dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry at baseline and at 16 weeks.
- Insulin sensitivity was measured using an intravenous glucose tolerance test, with multiple linear regression used to analyze the data.
TAKEAWAY:
- Lower baseline insulin was a predictor of greater lean muscle mass loss during weight loss.
- Identifying individuals with low insulin sensitivity prior to weight loss interventions could allow for personalized approaches to minimize lean mass loss.
- The study suggested that insulin sensitivity plays a significant role in determining the composition of weight lost during dieting.
IN PRACTICE:
“Identifying individuals with low insulin sensitivity prior to weight loss interventions may allow for a personalized approach aiming at minimizing lean mass loss,” wrote the authors of the study. This insight underscores the importance of considering insulin sensitivity in weight loss programs to preserve muscle mass. Individuals with low insulin sensitivity may benefit from increasing protein and incorporating resistance training during weight loss.
SOURCE:
The study was led by Ciera L. Bartholomew, Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alabama. It was published online in Obesity (Silver Spring).
LIMITATIONS:
The study’s secondary analysis nature and its relatively small sample size limit the ability to establish relationships between insulin sensitivity and lean muscle loss. In addition, all food was provided, and participants all consumed the same protein level.
DISCLOSURES:
The study was supported by grants from the Comprehensive Diabetes Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and a National Institutes of Health Research Grant. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.