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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
A new genetic study found that people carrying rare variants of the insulin receptor (INSR) gene — causing a mild, lifelong form of insulin resistance — actually have a healthier metabolic profile than the general population. Despite slightly elevated insulin levels, carriers showed lower triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and liver enzymes, plus higher HDL cholesterol. Their risk for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and death was no higher than noncarriers.
Insulin resistance has long been viewed as a red flag for metabolic disease — but a new study suggests that's not always the case. Researchers from the University of Exeter analyzed whole-genome sequencing data from nearly 459,000 adults in the UK Biobank and found that carriers of rare heterozygous INSR gene variants — which cause a mild, lifelong impairment of insulin receptor function — actually displayed a healthier metabolic profile than non-carriers, despite similar BMI levels.
Carriers had lower triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, liver enzymes, and waist-to-hip ratio, alongside higher HDL cholesterol. Crucially, their risk for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, malignancy, and all-cause mortality was comparable to the general population. These findings were replicated in the All of Us Biobank, adding confidence to the results.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: This research challenges the blanket assumption that insulin resistance is always harmful, opening the door to a more nuanced, mechanism-based understanding of metabolic health — and potentially new treatment pathways.
