Amylin and Its Relation to Insulin and Lipids in Obese Children Before and After Weight Loss

Abstract

Objective: There are limited data concerning the relationships between amylin, weight status, lipids, insulin, and insulin resistance in obese humans. Therefore, the aim was to study these relationships in cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. Research Methods and Procedures:Fasting amylin, insulin, glucose, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, and percentage body fat based on skinfold measurements were determined in 37 obese children (median age, 11.5 years) and compared with 16 lean children of the same age and gender. Furthermore, we analyzed the changes of these variables in the obese children after participating in a oneyear weight loss intervention program. Results: Obese children had significantly (p Ͻ 0.01) higher amylin, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, and insulin levels as compared with the lean children. In multiple linear regression analysis, amylin was significantly (p Ͻ 0.05) correlated to insulin and triglycerides, but not to age, gender, pubertal stage, or BMI. Changes of amylin correlated significantly (p Ͻ 0.001) to changes of insulin (r ϭ 0.54) and triglycerides (r ϭ 0.49), but not to changes of BMI or percentage body fat. Substantial weight loss in 17 children led to a significant (p Ͻ 0.05) decrease of amylin, triglycerides, and insulin, in contrast to the 20 children without substantial weight loss. Conclusion: Amylin levels were related to insulin concentrations in both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses, suggesting a relationship between amylin and insulin secretion. Amylin levels were reversibly increased in obesity and related to triglyceride concentrations.

Correlations between endogen amylin hormone and some hormonal, biochemical and bone parameters in pullets

“…A positive correlation between amylin and triglycerides was previously reported in a study with 53 children (Reinehr et al, 2007). However, it remains controversial whether elevated amylin may directly or indirectly induce dyslipidemia.…”

“…Infusion of amylin in dogs also induced peripheral insulin resistance (Xinwei et al, 2011). High levels of amylin are observed in obese children and obese adults with impaired glucose tolerance or type-2 diabetes (Reinehr et al, 2007). Cellular and animal studies implicate multiple roles of amylin in regulating insulin action and glucose and lipid metabolism.…”

Serum Amylin Indicates Hypertriglyceridemia in Pre-diabetics

“…Amylin, which is co-secreted with insulin, regulates post-prandial glucose levels in part by inhibiting gastric emptying and suppressing glucagon release while not affecting glucose uptake [4]. Amylin has been shown to mirror insulin secretion in healthy subjects [5], obese subjects, prediabetics (subjects with impaired glucose tolerance) [6,7], and patients with Type 2 Diabetes [5]. These findings suggest an active role for plasma amylin levels in modulating glucose metabolism [8].…”

“…These results support the contention that hypertriglyceridemia may be related to amylin secretion. However, reports about the relationship between hypertriglyceridemia and plasma amylin levels are scarce [6,10,17]. Taken together, these observations prompted us to evaluate the association between serum triglycerides with circulating amylin levels among subjects with and without impaired glucose tolerance.…”

TNF-α acutely upregulates amylin expression in murine pancreatic beta cells

“…Amylin was discovered in 1987 as a major component of amyloid deposits in the pancreas of type 2 diabetes patients [4,5]. Elevated circulating levels of amylin have been detected in patients with severe acute pancreatitis [6], pancreas transplantation [7], obesity and insulin resistance [8][9][10]. Pancreatic amylin mRNA and plasma amylin levels are also elevated in genetically obese, insulin-resistant rats [11].…”