A Non-Traditional Model of the Metabolic Syndrome: The Adaptive Significance of Insulin in Fasting-Adapted Seals
Insulin resistance in modern society is perceived as a pathological consequence of excess energy consumption and reduced physical activity. Its presence in relation to the development of cardiovascular risk factors has been termed the metabolic syndrome, which produces increased mortality and morbid...
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ftcalifstateuniv:oai:scholarworks:3n203z946 2024-09-30T14:34:22+00:00 A Non-Traditional Model of the Metabolic Syndrome: The Adaptive Significance of Insulin in Fasting-Adapted Seals Dorian S. Houser Cory D. Champagne Daniel E. Crocker 2013-11 http://hdl.handle.net/10211.3/123241 English eng Frontiers in Endocrinology Support for the writing of this review was provided by the Office of Naval Research under grant N000141110436. http://hdl.handle.net/10211.3/123241 metabolic syndrome insulin resistance fasting hyperglycemia elephant seal Article 2013 ftcalifstateuniv 2024-09-10T17:06:15Z Insulin resistance in modern society is perceived as a pathological consequence of excess energy consumption and reduced physical activity. Its presence in relation to the development of cardiovascular risk factors has been termed the metabolic syndrome, which produces increased mortality and morbidity and which is rapidly increasing in human populations. Ironically, insulin resistance likely evolved to assist animals during food shortages by increasing the availability of endogenous lipid for catabolism while protecting protein from use in gluconeogenesis and eventual oxidation. Some species that incorporate fasting as a predictable component of their life history demonstrate physiological traits similar to the metabolic syndrome during prolonged fasts. One such species is the northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris), which fasts from food and water for periods of up to 4 months. During this time, s90% of the seals metabolic demands are met through fat oxidation and circulating non-esterified fatty acids are high (0.7–3.2 mM). All life history stages of elephant seal studied to date demonstrate insulin resistance and fasting hyperglycemia as well as variations in hormones and adipocytokines that reflect the metabolic syndrome to some degree. Elephant seals demonstrate some intriguing adaptations with the potential for medical advancement; for example, ketosis is negligible despite significant and prolonged fatty acid oxidation and investigation of this feature might provide insight into the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis. The parallels to the metabolic syndrome are likely reflected to varying degrees in other marine mammals, most of which evolved on diets high in lipid and protein content but essentially devoid of carbohydrate. Utilization of these natural models of insulin resistance may further our understanding of the pathophysiology of the metabolic syndrome in humans and better assist the development of preventative measures and therapies. Published by Frontiers and copyright of Houser, ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Elephant Seal Elephant Seals Scholarworks from California State University |
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English |
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metabolic syndrome insulin resistance fasting hyperglycemia elephant seal |
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metabolic syndrome insulin resistance fasting hyperglycemia elephant seal Dorian S. Houser Cory D. Champagne Daniel E. Crocker A Non-Traditional Model of the Metabolic Syndrome: The Adaptive Significance of Insulin in Fasting-Adapted Seals |
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metabolic syndrome insulin resistance fasting hyperglycemia elephant seal |
description |
Insulin resistance in modern society is perceived as a pathological consequence of excess energy consumption and reduced physical activity. Its presence in relation to the development of cardiovascular risk factors has been termed the metabolic syndrome, which produces increased mortality and morbidity and which is rapidly increasing in human populations. Ironically, insulin resistance likely evolved to assist animals during food shortages by increasing the availability of endogenous lipid for catabolism while protecting protein from use in gluconeogenesis and eventual oxidation. Some species that incorporate fasting as a predictable component of their life history demonstrate physiological traits similar to the metabolic syndrome during prolonged fasts. One such species is the northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris), which fasts from food and water for periods of up to 4 months. During this time, s90% of the seals metabolic demands are met through fat oxidation and circulating non-esterified fatty acids are high (0.7–3.2 mM). All life history stages of elephant seal studied to date demonstrate insulin resistance and fasting hyperglycemia as well as variations in hormones and adipocytokines that reflect the metabolic syndrome to some degree. Elephant seals demonstrate some intriguing adaptations with the potential for medical advancement; for example, ketosis is negligible despite significant and prolonged fatty acid oxidation and investigation of this feature might provide insight into the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis. The parallels to the metabolic syndrome are likely reflected to varying degrees in other marine mammals, most of which evolved on diets high in lipid and protein content but essentially devoid of carbohydrate. Utilization of these natural models of insulin resistance may further our understanding of the pathophysiology of the metabolic syndrome in humans and better assist the development of preventative measures and therapies. Published by Frontiers and copyright of Houser, ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Dorian S. Houser Cory D. Champagne Daniel E. Crocker |
author_facet |
Dorian S. Houser Cory D. Champagne Daniel E. Crocker |
author_sort |
Dorian S. Houser |
title |
A Non-Traditional Model of the Metabolic Syndrome: The Adaptive Significance of Insulin in Fasting-Adapted Seals |
title_short |
A Non-Traditional Model of the Metabolic Syndrome: The Adaptive Significance of Insulin in Fasting-Adapted Seals |
title_full |
A Non-Traditional Model of the Metabolic Syndrome: The Adaptive Significance of Insulin in Fasting-Adapted Seals |
title_fullStr |
A Non-Traditional Model of the Metabolic Syndrome: The Adaptive Significance of Insulin in Fasting-Adapted Seals |
title_full_unstemmed |
A Non-Traditional Model of the Metabolic Syndrome: The Adaptive Significance of Insulin in Fasting-Adapted Seals |
title_sort |
non-traditional model of the metabolic syndrome: the adaptive significance of insulin in fasting-adapted seals |
publisher |
Frontiers in Endocrinology |
publishDate |
2013 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/10211.3/123241 |
genre |
Elephant Seal Elephant Seals |
genre_facet |
Elephant Seal Elephant Seals |
op_relation |
http://hdl.handle.net/10211.3/123241 |
_version_ |
1811637996520210432 |