Acute Carbohydrate Overfeeding: a Redox Model of Insulin Action and Its Impact on Metabolic Dysfunction in Humans

Current principles assume that conversion of thermic energy to metabolically useful energy follows fixed rules. These principles ignore the possibility of variable proton uncoupling in mitochondria. Our study shows that the net balance of electron distribution between mitochondria and cytoplasm is influenced by insulin in a manner that reduces the need for proton leakage during overfeeding. Characterization of the effects of insulin on redox balance is important for understanding obesity and insulin resistance.