Many, but not all, adult rhesus monkeys spontaneously develop significant increases in body fat mass, and many, but not all, progress to develop overt adult-onset type II diabetes. The purpose of this study was to determine whether both an increase in body fat and onset of diabetes could be simultaneously prevented through long-term maintenance of stable normal adult body weight by caloric titration. Eight adult male monkeys were provided a complete normal chow diet, but with daily amounts restricted and titrated on a weekly basis to maintain a constant body weight (weight-stabilized group). This regimen has been continued for 5–9 yr (mean ± SD of 7 ± 0.5 yr) with monkeys attaining the age of 17.9 ± 0.6 yr and with maintenance of normal body fat (17.7 ± 1.8%). The age-matched ad libitum fed group (18.1 ± 0.2 yr of age) consisted of 19 monkeys maintained under identical laboratory conditions and diet, but with food available ad libitum. Results showed weight-stabilized monkeys weighed significantly < ad libitum fed monkeys (10.4 ± 0.2 vs. 16.1 ± 0.7 kg, respectively, P < 0.05) and had significantly better glucose tolerance as measured by Kglucose (glucose disappearance rate) (3.9 ± 0.3 vs. 2.4 ± 0.2, P ± 0.05). Of the 19 ad libitum fed age-matched monkeys, 4 were overtly diabetic, and 6 others had significantly reduced glucose tolerance. Hyperinsulinemia did not develop in the weight-stabilized group, and β-cell response to glucose remained normal; both were significantly different from the exaggerated levels of the ad libitum fed group (P < 0.05). This form of obesity-associated type II diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance, thus, appears to be completely prevented or onset indefinitely delayed by sustained caloric restriction and maintenance of normal body composition.
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Original Articles|
December 01 1993
Primary Prevention of Diabetes Mellitus by Prevention of Obesity in Monkeys
Barbara C Hansen;
Barbara C Hansen
Obesity and Diabetes Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine
Baltimore, Maryland
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Noni L Bodkin
Noni L Bodkin
Obesity and Diabetes Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine
Baltimore, Maryland
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Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. B.C. Hansen, Obesity and Diabetes Research Center, Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland at Baltimore, 10 South Pine Street, MSTF #6–00, Baltimore, MD 21201.
Diabetes 1993;42(12):1809–1814
Article history
Received:
December 10 1992
Revision Received:
July 28 1993
Accepted:
July 28 1993
PubMed:
8243827
Citation
Barbara C Hansen, Noni L Bodkin; Primary Prevention of Diabetes Mellitus by Prevention of Obesity in Monkeys. Diabetes 1 December 1993; 42 (12): 1809–1814. https://doi.org/10.2337/diab.42.12.1809
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