Dietary palmitate and oleate differently modulate insulin sensitivity in human skeletal muscle

Abstract

Abstract Aims/hypothesis Energy-dense nutrition generally induces insulin resistance, but dietary composition may differently affect glucose metabolism. This study investigated initial effects of monounsaturated vs saturated lipid meals on basal and insulin-stimulated myocellular glucose metabolism and insulin signalling. Methods In a randomised crossover study, 16 lean metabolically healthy volunteers received single meals containing safflower oil (SAF), palm oil (PAL) or vehicle (VCL). Whole-body glucose metabolism was assessed from glucose disposal (Rd) before and during hyperinsulinaemic–euglycaemic clamps with d-[6,6-2H2]glucose. In serial skeletal muscle biopsies, subcellular lipid metabolites and insulin signalling were measured before and after meals. Results SAF and PAL raised plasma oleate, but only PAL significantly increased plasma palmitate concentrations. SAF and PAL increased myocellular diacylglycerol and activated protein kinase C (PKC) isoform θ (p < 0.05) but only PAL activated PKCɛ. Moreover, PAL led to increased myocellular ceramides along with stimulated PKCζ translocation (p < 0.05 vs SAF). During clamp, SAF and PAL both decreased insulin-stimulated Rd (p < 0.05 vs VCL), but non-oxidative glucose disposal was lower after PAL compared with SAF (p < 0.05). Muscle serine1101-phosphorylation of IRS-1 was increased upon SAF and PAL consumption (p < 0.05), whereas PAL decreased serine473-phosphorylation of Akt more than SAF (p < 0.05). Conclusions/interpretation Lipid-induced myocellular insulin resistance is likely more pronounced with palmitate than with oleate and is associated with PKC isoforms activation and inhibitory insulin signalling. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov.NCT01736202. Funding German Federal Ministry of Health, Ministry of Culture and Science of the State North Rhine-Westphalia, German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, European Regional Development Fund, German Research Foundation, German Center for Diabetes Research. Graphical abstract