Specialists from the Biomedical Research Group in Red-Pathophysiology of Obesity and Nutrition indicate that there is a predisposition to develop type 2 diabetes mellitus in those patients who have regained weight after losing it in a diet.
The researchers studied a group of 136 obese patients who followed an eight-calorie, low-calorie, weight-loss diet and, at the end of the week, tried to stay at their full weight.
Between four and six months after treatment, they were re-evaluated to see if they had achieved their goal and had managed to avoid the so-called “rebound effect”, which usually occurs in some patients after this type of dietary restrictions.
“In the evaluations that were performed, the levels of irisine, leptin and adiponectin were used in order to determine the difference between the initial amounts, at the end of the diet and after the follow-up period. The results left no doubt: of the 136 patients analyzed, 50% recovered their lost weight and, after checking their analytics and observing high levels of irisin in blood, were classified as resistant to insulin, “says Ana Belén Crujeiras , Lead author of the study.
Hormones
Crujeiras explains that leptin and adiponectin are released by the fatty tissue of our body. “Leptin has the function of decreasing appetite and, in addition, is related to the regulation of metabolism. Adiponectin has to do with glucose metabolism and is a protective hormone, “says the expert.
“Obese subjects have very high levels of leptin, even though it is a hormone that lowers the appetite. Meanwhile, adiponectin is greatly diminished and is associated with the failures of obese people in glucose metabolism, “says Crujeiras.
According to the specialist doctor, the irisine was discovered only a year ago and generated high expectations as a protector against obesity. At first, it was discovered that it was secreted by the muscle after exercise and was proposed as a protector to combat obesity and improve glucose metabolism.
“We observed that it was also secreted by adipose tissue and found that obese patients had increased irisine levels. In addition, we have found an association between irisine, insulin resistance and regain weight after a diet, “he says.