A Case Study of Inositol and Soluble Fiber Supplementation on Glycemic Control in an Overweight Subject.
It is well-recognized that overweight and obesity are associated with impaired glucose control. For healthy individuals, a normal fasting blood glucose level is between 70 and 100 mg/dL, and a
normal post-prandial blood glucose level is between 100 and 140mg/dL. In people with high body weight, insulin resistance develops due to excess adipose tissue resulting in the dysregulation of
blood glucose levels.
In muscle, insulin promotes glucose uptake and protein synthesis, in adipose tissue insulin promotes glucose and fatty acid uptake and inhibition of lipolysis, and in the liver insulin promotes glucose utilization and suppresses glucose production. Glucagon facilitates the release of glucose from stored glycogen in the body to increase glucose concentration in the blood. These hormones act in a negative feedback loop regulating one another. Disruptions in the signalling of these hormones, physical damage to the cells involved, and decreased effect of these mechanisms can all lead to glucose dysregulation. In overweight and obesity, body tissues become less sensitive to the
effects of insulin resulting in decreased uptake of glucose from the bloodstream.
Furthermore, the presence of insulin does not properly inhibit glucagon action on the liver resulting in continued hepatic glucose output despite adequate glucose already present in the blood. Glucose dysregulation results in aberrations of lipid metabolism, which increases risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Studies indicate there is a direct relationship
among blood glucose, lipid metabolism, and pancreatic beta cell dysfunction.
Obes Res Open J. 2021; 8(1): 26-31. doi: 10.17140/OROJ-8-148
