Conjugated linoleic acid improves insulin sensitivity

Abstract

Context:

Insulin resistance precedes metabolic syndrome abnormalities and may promote cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes in children with obesity. Results of lifestyle modification programs have been discouraging, and the use of adjuvant strategies has been necessary.

Objective:

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of metformin and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on insulin sensitivity, measured via euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp technique and insulin pathway expression molecules in muscle biopsies of children with obesity.

Design:

A randomized, double-blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted.

Setting:

Children and adolescents with obesity were randomly assigned to receive either metformin, CLA or placebo (PLB). (Clinicaltrials.gov:NCT02063802)

Main outcome measures: Results:

Intervention had a positive effect on weight, height, BMI, waist circumference, and fitness condition in all groups. For the primary outcome, Insulin Sensitivity Rd-value (mg/kg/min), there was a statistically significant difference between the CLA group compared to PLB (6.53±2.54 Vs 5.05±1.46, p=0.035). Fasting insulinemia and HOMA-IR significantly improved in the CLA group (p=0.045). Analysis of covariance was conducted to control the influence of BMI, BMI change, age, Tanner stage, prescribed diet, and fitness achievement over the Insulin Sensitivity Rd-value. Tanner stage showed a statistically significant influence. Nonetheless, a clinically relevant effect size on insulin sensitivity was evident in the CLA-treated patients (37%) that exceeded lifestyle intervention program benefits. Moreover, up regulated expression of the Insulin Receptor Substrate 2 (IRS-2) was evident in muscle biopsies of CLA treated children.

Conclusions:

Improvement of insulin sensitivity, measured via euglycemic- hyperinsulinemic clamp and IRS2 up regulation, favored patients treated with CLA.

http://press.endocrine.org/doi/abs/10.1210/jc.2016-2701

There you go, there's the grass-fed butter and cheese at work!

Good stuff!

Also it's ecologically viable, no need for huge inputs of diesel and chemicals to grow grass and put the cows in the field, and not that much to make haylage/silage to keep them going over winter.

I'm still waiting for a dietician to explain how cows can eat grass and become so fat, and why grains are fed specifically to fatten them, and why this doesn't happen to people . . .