Endogenous epinephrine protects against obesity induced insulin resistance.
Epinephrine (E) is a hormone released from the adrenal medulla in response to low blood sugar and other stresses.
Research: Mice prone to overfeeding induced type II diabetes had the PNMT gene knocked out to prevent E synthesis. These E deficient mice were very similar to control animals on a 14% fat diet. On a 40.6% fat diet they gained 20 to 33% more weight than control animals and increased their blood glucose response to a glucose tolerance test because they became resistant to insulin.
Endogenous E protects against overfeeding induced diabetes. Since adrenal E release can be impaired with aging and diabetes, endogenous E may help prevent adult onset diabetes.
Auton Neurosci. 2011 Jul 5;162(1-2):32-4. Epub 2011 Feb 26.
