Journal of Nutrition & Food Sciences
Open Access

Abstract

Adipose Tissue Hypoxia: Effects on Metabolism and Insulin Sensitivity

Emily A Lounsbury, Feng-Qi Zhao and Karen M Lounsbury

Obesity is associated with an increased risk of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. These risks have been correlated with a chronic inflammatory response of the adipose tissue that affects glucose and lipid metabolism. Hypoxia, stemming from inadequate adipose tissue blood flow in obesity, has been shown to be an important contributor to this inflammatory response. The response to hypoxia includes changes in gene expression that affect glucose uptake, glycolysis, lipid metabolism, inflammation, and angiogenesis. This review describes the effects of obesity on chronic and intermittent hypoxia in white adipose tissue and highlights the resulting effects on gene expression and cell metabolism that can affect the onset of systemic insulin resistance and the development of chronic metabolic dysfunction in type 2 diabetes.