Prolonged β2-agonist treatment enhances muscle-specific glucose uptake in individuals with overweight and obesity: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.
Impaired post-prandial skeletal muscle glucose uptake plays a pivotal role in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), yet pharmacological strategies to enhance muscle glucose uptake are limited. Previous (pre)clinical research revealed that β2-adrenergic receptor (β2-AR) stimulation enhances glucose uptake, but its clinical relevance in individuals susceptible to developing T2DM is unknown. Here we determined in a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover study (ClinicalTrials.gov-identifier: NCT04921306), the effects of a 4-week treatment with the β2-adrenergic agonist clenbuterol (40 μg/day) on insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in the quadriceps muscle (primary outcome) and brown adipose tissue (BAT) (secondary outcome) using 18F-FDG PET-MRI during a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp in individuals with overweight or obesity (age: 40-70 years, BMI: 25-35 kg/m2). A total of 14 participants were recruited and randomized. Insulin-stimulated glucose uptake tended to improve in vastus lateralis (15%, p = 0.072) and increased significantly in the hamstring (13%, p = 0.039) muscle, while BAT uptake (p = 0.720) remained unaffected. These findings suggest potential therapeutic benefits of β2-AR stimulation for improving muscle-specific glucose uptake in individuals with or at risk for developing diabetes.
Authors
Van Lier Van Lier, van de Weijer van de Weijer, Vanweert Vanweert, Brouwers Brouwers, Nijssen Nijssen, Schaart Schaart, Moonen-Kornips Moonen-Kornips, van Beek van Beek, Springer Springer, Wierts Wierts, Joris Joris, Schrauwen-Hinderling Schrauwen-Hinderling, Phielix Phielix, Bengtsson Bengtsson, Schrauwen Schrauwen, Hoeks Hoeks
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