Subscribe to RSS
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1267205
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York
Lipolysis Index: Evaluation of a New Tool for Metabolic Assessment in Epidemiological Studies on Obesity
Publication History
received 05.05.2010
accepted 09.09.2010
Publication Date:
22 October 2010 (online)

Abstract
Lipid mobilization through adipocyte lipolysis is central for energy metabolism and is decreased in obesity. However, the factors of importance for lipolytic activity in the general population are not known. To further examine this we performed a cross-sectional study on teenagers and adults. We constructed and evaluated a simple index of lipolytic activity (ratio of fasting p-glycerol and body fat %) in population based samples in 316 teenagers (BMI 16–51 kg/m2) and 3 039 adults (BMI 16–70 kg/m2). In the adults, multiple regression analysis showed that waist and BMI but not age, plasma insulin, plasma noradrenaline or waist-to-hip ratio contributed independently and inversely to lipolytic activity (partial r=−0.37 and −0.28, respectively, p<0.0001). Together waist and BMI explained about 45% of the variability of lipolysis. Waist was a stronger factor than BMI in stepwise regression. The same analysis in teenagers showed that only BMI contributed independently and inversely to lipolytic activity (partial r=−0.90, p<0.0001) and explained about 55% of lipolysis variation. BMI had the strongest effect on lipolysis in lean teenagers. The results were the same for men and women. At all levels of lipolytic activity plasma fatty acid levels were elevated in obese subjects (p<0.0001). We conclude that during adolescence BMI is the major factor negatively influencing lipolytic activity, in particular among lean young subjects. In adulthood central fat accumulation together with increasing BMI decreases lipolysis. In spite of low lipolytic activity circulating fatty acid levels are increased in obesity, probably due to an adipose mass effect.
Key words
obesity - waist circumference - norepinephrine - insulin - fat cell - glycerol
References
- 1
Arner P.
Human fat cell lipolysis: biochemistry, regulation and clinical role.
Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab.
2005;
19
471-482
MissingFormLabel
- 2
Koutsari C, Jensen MD.
Thematic review series: patient-oriented research. Free fatty acid metabolism in human
obesity.
J Lipid Res.
2006;
47
1643-1650
MissingFormLabel
- 3
Wolfe RR, Peters EJ, Klein S, Holland OB, Rosenblatt J, Gary Jr H.
Effect of short-term fasting on lipolytic responsiveness in normal and obese human
subjects.
Am J Physiol.
1987;
252
E189-E196
MissingFormLabel
- 4
Jensen MD, Haymond MW, Rizza RA, Cryer PE, Miles JM.
Influence of body fat distribution on free fatty acid metabolism in obesity.
J Clin Invest.
1989;
83
1168-1173
MissingFormLabel
- 5
Bougneres P, Stunff CL, Pecqueur C, Pinglier E, Adnot P, Ricquier D.
In vivo resistance of lipolysis to epinephrine. A new feature of childhood onset obesity.
J Clin Invest.
1997;
99
2568-2573
MissingFormLabel
- 6
Hagstrom-Toft E, Bolinder J, Ungerstedt U, Arner P.
A circadian rhythm in lipid mobilization which is altered in IDDM.
Diabetologia.
1997;
40
1070-1078
MissingFormLabel
- 7
Agustsson T, Ryden M, Hoffstedt J, van Harmelen V, Dicker A, Laurencikiene J, Isaksson B, Permert J, Arner P.
Mechanism of increased lipolysis in cancer cachexia.
Cancer Res.
2007;
67
5531-5537
MissingFormLabel
- 8
Linne Y, Rossner S.
Interrelationships between weight development and weight retention in subsequent pregnancies:
the SPAWN study.
Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand.
2003;
82
318-325
MissingFormLabel
- 9
Andersson K, Eneroth P, Arner P.
Changes in circulating lipid and carbohydrate metabolites following systemic nicotine
treatment in healthy men.
Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord.
1993;
17
675-680
MissingFormLabel
- 10
Quisth V, Enoksson S, Blaak E, Hagstrom-Toft E, Arner P, Bolinder J.
Major differences in noradrenaline action on lipolysis and blood flow rates in skeletal
muscle and adipose tissue in vivo.
Diabetologia.
2005;
48
946-953
MissingFormLabel
- 11
Large V, Reynisdottir S, Langin D, Fredby K, Klannemark M, Holm C, Arner P.
Decreased expression and function of adipocyte hormone-sensitive lipase in subcutaneous
fat cells of obese subjects.
J Lipid Res.
1999;
40
2059-2066
MissingFormLabel
- 12
Haslam DW, James WP.
Obesity.
Lancet.
2005;
366
1197-1209
MissingFormLabel
- 13
Kumagai Y.
Strategies against high blood pressure in the early morning.
Clin Exp Hypertens.
2004;
26
107-118
MissingFormLabel
- 14
Harris CD.
Neurophysiology of sleep and wakefulness.
Respir Care Clin N Am.
2005;
11
567-586
MissingFormLabel
- 15
Lafontan M, Berlan M.
Do regional differences in adipocyte biology provide new pathophysiological insights?.
Trends Pharmacol Sci.
2003;
24
276-283
MissingFormLabel
- 16
Frayn KN.
Regulation of fatty acid delivery in vivo.
Adv Exp Med Biol.
1998;
441
171-179
MissingFormLabel
- 17
Dahlman I, Arner P.
Obesity and polymorphisms in genes regulating human adipose tissue.
Int J Obes (Lond).
2007;
31
1629-1641
MissingFormLabel
- 18
Suljkovicova H, Marion-Latard F, Hejnova J, Majercik M, Crampes F, De Glisezinski I, Berlan M, Riviere D, Stich V.
Effect of macronutrient composition of the diet on the regulation of lipolysis in
adipose tissue at rest and during exercise: microdialysis study.
Metabolism.
2002;
51
1291-1297
MissingFormLabel
- 19
Kosti RI, Panagiotakos DB.
The epidemic of obesity in children and adolescents in the world.
Cent Eur J Public Health.
2006;
14
151-159
MissingFormLabel
- 20
Lange KH.
Fat metabolism in exercise – with special reference to training and growth hormone
administration.
Scand J Med Sci Sports.
2004;
14
74-99
MissingFormLabel
- 21
Bennard P, Imbeault P, Doucet E.
Maximizing acute fat utilization: effects of exercise, food, and individual characteristics.
Can J Appl Physiol.
2005;
30
475-499
MissingFormLabel
- 22
McMurray RG, Hackney AC.
Interactions of metabolic hormones, adipose tissue and exercise.
Sports Med.
2005;
35
393-412
MissingFormLabel
- 23
Poirier P, Despres JP.
Exercise in weight management of obesity.
Cardiol Clin.
2001;
19
459-470
MissingFormLabel
- 24
Bensimhon DR, Kraus WE, Donahue MP.
Obesity and physical activity: a review.
Am Heart J.
2006;
151
598-603
MissingFormLabel
- 25
Boden G.
Free fatty acids-the link between obesity and insulin resistance.
Endocr Pract.
2001;
7
44-51
MissingFormLabel
Correspondence
Dr. P. Löfgren
Karolinska Institutet –
Department of Medicine
Huddinge
Center for Metabolism and
Endocrinology
M 63 Karolinska
Universitetssjukuset Huddinge
Stockholm 14186
Sweden
Phone: +46/8/58 58 2392
Fax: +46/8/58 58 2407
Email: patrik.lofgren@ki.se