Carbohydrates, insulin, and obesity
Insulin plays a role in body fat regulation independent of dietary carbohydrates
Abstract
The primary cause of common human obesity remains uncertain. There are several plausible explanations, including the popular “carbohydrate-insulin” model (CIM), which suggests that body-fat gain results from consumption of carbohydrates that stimulate postprandial insulin, which promotes energy storage and further intake in a vicious cycle. The theoretical basis of the CIM has been refuted by several recent experiments. We suggest that although insulin plays an important role in body fat regulation, the CIM fails because it focuses on the direct action of insulin on adipose tissue after the consumption of a meal containing carbohydrates. Rather, we propose that the role of insulin in obesity may be better understood by considering its pleiotropic action on multiple organs that is driven by factors mostly independent of carbohydrate intake. Reconsidering the role of insulin may improve our understanding of the causes of obesity and its treatment.
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Science
Volume 372 | Issue 6542
7 May 2021
7 May 2021
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Copyright © 2021 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works.
This is an article distributed under the terms of the Science Journals Default License.
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Published in print: 7 May 2021
Acknowledgments
J.R.S. is supported by the 1000 Talents Program, a professorial fellowship from the Chinese Academy of Sciences President's International Fellowship Initiative (PIFI), and a Wolfson Research Merit Award from the UK Royal Society. K.D.H. is supported by the Intramural Research Program of the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
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Cited by
- The carbohydrate-insulin model: a physiological perspective on the obesity pandemic, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, (2021).https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqab270
- Perspective: Does Glycemic Index Matter for Weight Loss and Obesity Prevention? Examination of the Evidence on “Fast” Compared with “Slow” Carbs, Advances in Nutrition, (2021).https://doi.org/10.1093/advances/nmab093
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RE: Carbohydrates, insulin, and obesity
There is more to Obesity than Carbohydrates, Insulin and Obesity:
Obesity is a complex disease. Obesity is the mother of many other diseases and grandmother of several other. It is not just Carbohydrates, Fats, Insulin and Obesity. It is all that and much more. However, the final common pathway for Obesity is calorie excess. No one ever gains weight on a Hypocalorie diet or an Intermittent fasting/ fasting diet.
'You are what you eat,' is a famous aphorism. Obesity is certainly related to the food we eat. But, much more important is, 'What we do with what we eat.' This is where microbiota play a crucial role. Our microbiome influence almost all aspects of our life, including how much we absorb from the food we eat. The Food we eat influences the Gut Microbiome. This may explain why some respond with weight loss on a Low carbohydrate diet, while others don't lose weight on the same diet and may require a Low fat diet.
Insulin is an anabolic hormone. It certainly has a role in the Overweight and Obesity epidemic sweeping USA and many other developed nations. Whether it has a facilitative role or causative or contributory role remains to be elucidated.
The best way out of the current Overweight, Obesity epidemic is by adopting a 'Whole food, plant based,' diet which will help us escape from the current Pandemic and in also facing/preventing future pandemics.
Professor Dr Pandiyan Natarajan.