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Postprandial Interleukin-6 Release from Skeletal Muscle in Men with Impaired Glucose Tolerance Can Be Reduced by Weight Loss

Department of Human Biology (E.C., W.H.M.S., E.E.B.), Nutrition and Toxicology Research Institute NUTRIM, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands; Laboratory for Toxicology, Pathology and Genetics (E.H.J.M.J.), and Centre for Nutrition and Health (E.J.M.F.), National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands; and Department of Anesthesiology (P.M.H.J.R.), University Hospital Maastricht, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: E. Corpeleijn, M.Sc., Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. E-mail: E.Corpeleijn{at}hb.unimaas.nl.

Context: Obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus are associated with increased levels of IL-6, a marker of inflammation.

Objective: This study addressed the question of whether IL-6 was released from skeletal muscle after a high-fat meal in men with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), a prediabetic state, and whether IL-6 release could be reduced by weight loss.

Design: Skeletal muscle metabolism was studied in men with IGT (n = 11) and compared with men with normal glucose tolerance (NGT, n = 9), matched for body mass index and age. IL-6 flux over skeletal muscle was measured with the forearm model. Eight IGT men were willing to participate in a 12-wk weight loss program and were tested again.

Results: IL-6, but not C-reactive protein or TNF- receptor 1 and 2, was released by skeletal muscle. Muscle IL-6 release was higher in IGT than in NGT during fasting (IGT = 2.26 ± 1.89 vs. NGT = 0.87 ± 0.48 fmol_*100 ml tissue^–1_*min^–1, P = 0.04) and after a meal (mean area under the curve per minute: IGT = 3.48 ± 2.63 vs. NGT = 1.37 ± 0.75 fmol_*100 ml tissue^–1_*min^–1; P = 0.03). In the IGT men, body weight loss resulted in a decrease of postprandial IL-6 release from skeletal muscle (–52%; P = 0.04), reaching levels of the obese, NGT controls.

Conclusion: The present data suggest that a high-fat meal can evoke IL-6 release from muscle and that the IL-6 release is a consequence rather than a cause of the obese, insulin-resistant, and/or IGT state.

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