Use of skeletal muscle fiber composition to assess relationship between amino acid metabolism and insulin sensitivity
Authors' conclusion
These data demonstrate that the early development of IR is not a consequence of defects in amino acid metabolism. Rather, defects in amino acid metabolism in diseased states are more likely a consequence of IR.
Study context
- Population
- Healthy young men and women; vastus lateralis muscle biopsies, intravenous glucose tolerance test, plasma and muscle metabolomics
- Participants
- 20 vs 16
- Exposure
- Insulin-resistant vs insulin-sensitive healthy young adults
- Group 1n = 20reference
- Group 2n = 16
- Outcome
- Type I muscle fiber expression and whole-body insulin sensitivity
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
| Group | Value | Whole-body insulin sensitivity |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | 58.8% ± 5.7% | 1.8 ± 0.7 units |
| Group 2 | 29.8% ± 6.6% | 0.8 ± 0.3 units |
Value
Group 158.8% ± 5.7%
Group 229.8% ± 6.6%
Whole-body insulin sensitivity
Group 11.8 ± 0.7 units
Group 20.8 ± 0.3 units
- Group 2 vs Group 1: P < 0.001 vs group 1 for both — type I fibers and insulin sensitivity
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Muscle anserine, β-alanine and taurine
- Anserine and β-alanine significantly higher and taurine lower in group 2 vs 1
Correlation of taurine with insulin sensitivity and type I fiber expression
- Taurine correlated with insulin sensitivity and type I fibers (r; P < .001 for both)
- r = 0.63
Plasma and tissue glutamine, arginine, branched-chain amino acids
- No significant differences between groups
Original publication
Use of skeletal muscle fiber composition to assess relationship between amino acid metabolism and insulin sensitivity. Eur J Endocrinol. Published 19 September 2025. doi:10.
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