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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2011 Nov 10.
Published in final edited form as: Nature. 2006 Dec 14;444(7121):847–853. doi: 10.1038/nature05483

Figure 5. Adipocyte-derived non-esterified fatty acids have several effects on glucose homeostasis.

Figure 5

Lipolysis in adipocytes is repressed by insulin, so it is normal in the fasted state when insulin levels are low. Insulin resistance, however, is also associated with lipolysis and NEFA release into the circulation. Elevated serum NEFAs inhibit insulin’s ability to promote peripheral glucose uptake into muscle and fat and to reduce hepatic glucose production. Transiently elevated NEFAs (such as occur after a meal) tend to enhance insulin secretion, whereas chronic elevations in NEFAs (such as occur in insulin resistance) tend to reduce insulin secretion.