Ks. Park et al., Peripheral blood mitochondrial DNA content correlates with lipid oxidationrate during euglycemic clamps in healthy young men, DIABET RE C, 46(2), 1999, pp. 149-154
Both qualitative and quantitative changes in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have
been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus. It was previousl
y found that decreased mtDNA content preceded the development of diabetes a
nd mtDNA content correlated with the clinical parameters of insulin resista
nce syndrome, including diastolic blood pressure and waist-hip ratio. These
results prompted one to look whether there are correlations between mtDNA
content and the biochemical parameters of insulin resistance in non-diabeti
c subjects. MtDNA content of peripheral blood leukocytes was measured in Ko
rean healthy young men, and this was correlated with various parameters of
fuel metabolism at baseline and during euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamps w
ith indirect calorimetry, MtDNA content in peripheral blood leukocytes did
not correlate with insulin sensitivity index or other metabolic variables s
uch as body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and blood pressure.
However, mtDNA content showed a positive significant correlation with fat o
xidation rate during euglycemic clamps (r = 0.61, P < 0.05). Changes in fat
oxidation rate and carbohydrate oxidation rate during the clamps were sign
ificantly correlated with mtDNA content (r = 0.65, P < 0.05, r = - 0.65, P
< 0.05, respectively). These results suggest that mtDNA content in peripher
al blood may not correlate with insulin resistance per se but with some asp
ect of insulin resistance in healthy young men. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science I
reland Ltd. All rights reserved.