Daily glucose variability is associated with intrahepatic fat content, β cell sensitivity, and biomarkers of glycolysis in youth with obesity

Objective

Pediatric obesity is associated with insulin resistance, which, in turn, impacts glucose and lipid metabolism. This study sought to assess how glucose variability relates to intrahepatic fat content, β cell insulin sensitivity, and glycolysis in youth with obesity.

Methods

A total of 27 youth with obesity (11 girls, BMI percentile, median [25th–75th percentiles]: 99.0 [97.9–99.0]) wore a continuous glucose monitoring device for 10 days and underwent a 3-h oral glucose tolerance test. β cell function was assessed using the oral minimal model, and liver proton density fat fraction was measured by magnetic resonance imaging.

Results

Average sensor-derived glucose and glucose standard deviation (STDEV) and coefficient of variation (CV) were associated with liver proton density fat fraction (p = 0.0130, p = 0.0005, and p = 0.0028, respectively). First-phase insulin secretion, basal insulin secretion, and insulin sensitivity were associated with STDEV (p = 0.0344, p = 0.0091, and p = 0.0031, respectively) and CV (p = 0.0128, p = 0.0012, and p = 0.0022, respectively). STDEV and CV were also associated with 2-h glucose (p = 0.0067 and p = 0.0324, respectively) and plasma lactate (p = 0.0030 and p = 0.0123, respectively).

Conclusions

Daily glucose variability is associated with the degree of intrahepatic fat content, postprandial glucose, and plasma lactate concentrations.