Posts Tagged ‘insulin resistance’
Tuesday, November 24th, 2009
Factors that place fat around the waist (insulin resistance) and the activity of that fat tissue (production of signaling molecules that promote inflammation) are both at play behind the connection documented recently in this paper published in the journal Neurology. The authors found that “…a midlife WHR [waist hip ratio] greater than 0.80 increased risk for dementia approximately twofold…,” and conclude: “There are midlife and late-life implications for dementia prevention, and analytical considerations related to identifying risk factors for dementia.” Here are a few more papers related to the same finding:
- Research on diabetes, hyperinsulinemia and dementia in Dementia and Geriatric Disorders
- A paper on abdominal obesity and Alzheimer Disease published in the same journal
- A study in Archives of Neurology that concludes: “A larger WHR may be related to neurodegenerative, vascular, or metabolic processes that affect brain structures underlying cognitive decline and dementia.”
Tags: Alzheimer's, central obesity, dementia, insulin resistance, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio
Posted in Brain Health, General Science & Health, Insulin & Diabetes | No Comments »
Thursday, November 12th, 2009
Here is more evidence of the strong correlation between erectile dysfunction and insulin. This paper recently published in the Journal of Andrology clearly discerns the “correlation between erectile function and IR and abdominal obesity.” [IR = insulin resistance. Waist circumference is a metric for abdominal obesity.] Moreover, “IR also appears to alter testosterone production.” Important: a careful reading of this paper also discloses what functional medicine practitioners and Lapis Light patients know: “a negative correlation [with erectile function] was shown only between BT (biologically active fraction) and abdominal obesity. (BT is also termed free-fraction testosterone, measured in our salivary profiles. Total testosterone is not a reliable indicator.)
Tags: erectile dysfunction, insulin resistance, obesity, testosterone, waist circumference
Posted in Men's Health | No Comments »
Sunday, November 8th, 2009
Gentlemen, this paper published recently in the journal Urology represents one of many studies linking erectile dysfunction with the hormonal and vascular degeneration associated with insulin resistance in metabolic syndrome (earlier stage) and type 2 diabetes (more advanced). “In our study, the presence of T2DM [type 2 diabetes] was strongly associated with severe ED in patients with MS [metabolic syndrome]. We believe that components of MS should be taken into consideration in the diagnosis and treatment of ED.” If you like sex, take care of your blood sugar and insulin receptors.
Tags: ED, erectile dysfunction, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes
Posted in Insulin & Diabetes, Men's Health | No Comments »
Friday, November 6th, 2009
This compelling research published recently in the journal Diabetes discloses that loss of insulin sensitivity (increased insulin resistance) related to increase in adiposity (fat) and, “In contrast, age had no independent effect on insulin sensitivity.” Astute readers will recall that insulin resistance is a causal factor in overweight, so the main messages here are: Chronological age and biological age are different (this goes for men too, of course); and life-style behaviors that support healthy insulin regulation are good for a lifetime.
Tags: adiposity, age, insulin resistance
Posted in Insulin & Diabetes, Women's Health | No Comments »
Monday, November 2nd, 2009
As outlined in this recent paper, insulin resistance is a major risk factor for female cardiac health. A low glycemic, paleo-Mediterranean diet and interval-based exercise without over-training, plus supplemental nutrients according to individual genetic needs, are key life-style factors.
Tags: cardiac health, diet, Exercise, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, paleo-Meditarranean
Posted in Women's Health | 1 Comment »
Sunday, November 1st, 2009
This welcome study demonstrates that capsaicin (the chemical that makes chilies hot) “lowered fasting glucose, insulin, leptin levels, and markedly reduced the impairment of glucose tolerance.” Levels of inflammatory cytokines (signalling molecules that increase inflammation) in fat and liver tissue also “decreased markedly”. Adiponectin (the hormone secreted in fat tissue that reduces body fat, type 2 diabetes, blood vessel deposits and fatty liver disease) was increased, along with other beneficial agents. “Our data suggest that dietary capsaicin may reduce obesity-induced glucose intolerance by not only suppressing inflammatory responses but also enhancing fatty acid oxidation in adipose tissue and/or liver.” So eat chili peppers to burn fat, suppress inflammation and improve glucose tolerance.
Tags: adiponectin, capsaicin, chili, cytokines, hepatic steatosis, insulin resistance, leptin, liver fat, obesity
Posted in General Science & Health, Good Eating | No Comments »
Thursday, October 29th, 2009
This interesting paper published in the Journal of Physiology & Biochemistry describes how caffeine significantly reduced levels of TNF-alpha, a major pro-inflammatory cytokine (signalling molecule). Individuals with sympathetic nervous system (“fight or flight”) hyperarousal have reason to avoid or minimize caffeine, but this and other studies that will be posted here show evidence for benefit under the right circumstances. From the paper: “Adipose tissue secretions play an important role in the development of obesity-related pathologies such as diabetes…Thus, caffeine, by decreasing TNFalpha expression, could improve adipose tissue inflammation during obesity.”
Tags: caffeine, inflammation, insulin resistance, obesity, TNF-alpha
Posted in General Science & Health | No Comments »
Tuesday, October 20th, 2009
In this cohort study of 9577 people followed over eleven years, “significantly increased risks were observed for pancreatic, liver and colon cancer” in patients with type 2 diabetes. This is one among numerous studies demonstrating the links between insulin as a proliferating hormone, type 2 diabetes and a variety of malignancies.
Tags: cancer, colon cancer, insulin resistance, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, type 2 diabetes
Posted in General Science & Health | No Comments »
