Study: Not all body fat is created equal

Boston -- U.S. medical scientists have discovered fat from certain areas of the body can reduce insulin resistance and improve insulin sensitivity.

Researchers at the Joslin Diabetes Center led by Dr. C. Ronald Kahn have found subcutaneous fat -- fat found below the skin, usually in the hips and thighs -- is associated with reduced insulin levels and improved insulin sensitivity.

"This points to a new opportunity to find substances made by subcutaneous fat that may actually be good for glucose metabolism," said Kahn. "If we can identify how subcutaneous fat does this, we will have a big clue as to where to look for these substances."

The scientists found subcutaneous fat is intrinsically different from visceral fat and might produce substances that can improve glucose metabolism.

"The surprising thing was that it wasn't where the fat was located," Kahn said. "It was the kind of fat that was the most important variable. Even more surprising, it wasn't that abdominal fat was exerting negative effects, but that subcutaneous fat was producing a good effect."

The research that included Thien Tran, Yuji Yamamoto and Stephane Gesta is reported in the journal Cell Metabolism.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.