Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 3 complete abstracts (749 words), 9 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
Diminished effectiveness of insulin in lowering blood sugar levels: requiring the use of 200 units or more of insulin per day to prevent hyperglycemia or ketosis.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Resistance, Insulin; Insulin Sensitivity; Sensitivity, Insulin.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Hyperinsulinism; Drug Resistance
- Narrower topics
- Metabolic Syndrome
Related concepts
- Insulin
- Hyperglycemia
- Ketosis
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 114,071 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Insulin Resistance” (counts retrieved 2026-10-29). 30,971 of them (27.2%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is 2010-2019 with 49,520 records.
Reviews account for 23,247 records (20.4%) and meta-analyses for 1,816. Randomized controlled trials number 6,235 (5.5%) as a share of all records on the topic.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 6,739 |
| 2000-2009 | 26,841 |
| 2010-2019 | 49,520 |
| 2020 onward | 30,971 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 23,247 | 20.4% |
| Meta-analyses | 1,816 | 1.6% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 6,235 | 5.5% |
Method: PubMed query "Insulin Resistance"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-29.
Reading the evidence in pharmacology
Drug evidence builds in layers: laboratory pharmacology describes how a compound acts, pharmacokinetic studies describe how the body handles it, and randomized trials test whether it helps and what harms it causes. Post-marketing surveillance and observational studies reveal rarer adverse effects but cannot prove causation. This page is educational and is not a recommendation to start, stop or change any medicine; decisions about treatment belong with a qualified clinician.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| From Gene Function to Precision Intervention: CRISPR/Cas9 and Stem Cell-Based Strategies as Emerging Disease-Modifying Approaches in PMOS | 2026 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 2 | cc by PMID 42412303 · DOI · PMC13550076 |
| Serum Copper-to-Zinc Ratio and Oxidative Stress Are Associated with Anemia in Older Adults with Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Syndrome | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 2 | cc by PMID 42450113 · DOI · PMC13361404 |
| Beyond MVPA minutes: physical activity phenotypes are associated with metabolic profiles in children with obesity | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 42560380 · DOI · PMC13447327 |
From Gene Function to Precision Intervention: CRISPR/Cas9 and Stem Cell-Based Strategies as Emerging Disease-Modifying Approaches in PMOS [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) is a complex endocrine-metabolic disorder affecting up to 18% of women worldwide and remains the leading cause of anovulatory infertility.
- Closing excerpt
- Integrating CRISPR‑based functional genomics with stem cell research may shift PMOS management from symptom‑focused care to targeted, mechanism‑driven interventions that could modify the course of PMOS (Graphical Abstract).
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (191 words)
Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) is a complex endocrine-metabolic disorder affecting up to 18% of women worldwide and remains the leading cause of anovulatory infertility. Despite extensive research, current treatments primarily target symptoms, including menstrual irregularities, hyperandrogenism, and metabolic dysfunction, without addressing the underlying molecular and tissue-level disturbances. Advances in multi‑omic profiling have identified disruptions across neuroendocrine, metabolic, inflammatory, and extracellular matrix pathways, alongside genetic susceptibility at loci such as DENND1A, CYP17A1, LHCGR, FSHR, IRS1, and PPARG. However, the functional roles of many variants remain unresolved. CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing enables precise interrogation of these pathways, while stem cell-based platforms, including mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), exosomes, and gene-edited induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), may serve as complementary platforms for regeneration and disease modeling. Preclinical studies demonstrate that MSCs and their derivatives modulate inflammation, restore ovarian structure, and improve metabolic parameters, while iPSC-based models enable patient-specific investigation of steroidogenic and metabolic abnormalities. Translational challenges remain, including targeted delivery, off-target effects, phenotypic heterogeneity, and regulatory considerations. Integrating CRISPR‑based functional genomics with stem cell research may shift PMOS management from symptom‑focused care to targeted, mechanism‑driven interventions that could modify the course of PMOS (Graphical Abstract).
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42412303 · DOI · PMC13550076
Serum Copper-to-Zinc Ratio and Oxidative Stress Are Associated with Anemia in Older Adults with Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Syndrome [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Chronic oxidative stress is a molecular hallmark of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome, yet its contribution to CKM-associated anemia beyond erythropoietin deficiency and iron restriction is poorly characterized.
- Closing excerpt
- Together with selenium, cadmium, RDW, and uric acid, it defines an oxidative stress-driven hematological pathway that may contribute to the development and progression of anemia in patients with CKM syndrome.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (343 words)
Chronic oxidative stress is a molecular hallmark of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome, yet its contribution to CKM-associated anemia beyond erythropoietin deficiency and iron restriction is poorly characterized. The serum copper-to-zinc (Cu/Zn) ratio reflects impaired Cu/Zn-SOD1 antioxidant capacity and inflammatory trace-element imbalance, but its relationships with circulating redox biomarkers and its hematological relevance in CKM syndrome has never been explored in a community-dwelling cohort of older adults. We analyzed 2391 NHANES 2011-2016 participants ≥ 50 years of age with CKM stage I-IV. To explore whether the serum Cu/Zn ratio was associated with oxidative stress and immunomodulatory biomarkers as well as with the odds of anemia, we used survey-weighted Spearman correlations, linear regression (outcome: hemoglobin), and logistic regression (outcome: anemia); multivariate models were adjusted for a panel of antioxidant or immunomodulatory biomarkers (selenium, vitamin D), pro-oxidant biomarkers (lead, cadmium, cotinine, uric acid), red cell distribution width (RDW) as a composite biomarker of erythrocyte stress, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), CKM stage, and comorbidities. The molecular targets of the nine biomarkers were mapped onto a protein-protein interaction network using the STRING database v12.0 to contextualize regression findings within a systems biology framework. Anemia was present in 205 participants (8.6%). The Cu/Zn ratio was inversely correlated with the antioxidant marker selenium (r = -0.19; p p p < 0.001), consistent with its role as a hub within the CKM redox network. In fully adjusted models, a higher Cu/Zn ratio was independently associated with prevalent anemia (OR = 2.94; 95% CI: 1.61-5.37) and lower hemoglobin (β = -0.55 g/dL); among included biomarkers, selenium and cadmium were independently protective (OR = 0.76 per 10 µg/L and 0.23 per µg/dL, respectively), and RDW and uric acid were independently harmful (OR = 2.20 per 1% and 1.33 per mg/dL, respectively). The Cu/Zn ratio correlated with both antioxidant depletion and pro-oxidant accumulation in CKM syndrome and was independently associated with anemia within this oxidative network. Together with selenium, cadmium, RDW, and uric acid, it defines an oxidative stress-driven hematological pathway that may contribute to the development and progression of anemia in patients with CKM syndrome.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42450113 · DOI · PMC13361404
Beyond MVPA minutes: physical activity phenotypes are associated with metabolic profiles in children with obesity [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Pediatric obesity is associated with early cardiometabolic risk, yet MVPA alone may not capture meaningful variation in movement behavior.
- Closing excerpt
- Conclusion: Multidimensional PA phenotypes derived from accelerometry identify clinically meaningful differences in body composition and metabolic risk beyond MVPA duration, supporting phenotype-based approaches for pediatric obesity risk stratification and intervention design.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (215 words)
Pediatric obesity is associated with early cardiometabolic risk, yet MVPA alone may not capture meaningful variation in movement behavior. We applied DDRTree to accelerometry data to identify multidimensional physical activity phenotypes in children and adolescents with obesity and assessed their associations with body composition and cardiometabolic. This cross-sectional study included 91 children and adolescents with obesity (43% girls), aged 6-17 years, who wore a thigh-mounted accelerometer for 7 days. Multidimensional accelerometry features were extracted and PA phenotypes identified using DDRTree, an unsupervised reversed graph-embedding method that maps high-dimensional data onto a low-dimensional branching manifold. DDRTree identified 3-PA phenotypes. Anthropometry, metabolic outcomes, and a continuous metabolic syndrome risk score were compared across phenotypes using ANCOVA adjusted for age and sex. DDRTree identified three PA phenotypes: Sedentary (24%), Light Activity (55%), and Higher Activity (21%); only three participants met MVPA recommendations. Compared with the Sedentary Pattern, the Higher Activity Pattern accumulated 122 min/day less sedentary time and 16.5 min/day more MVPA (p < 0.001) and showed lower fat mass percentage, higher fat-free mass percentage, higher insulin sensitivity (SPISE), and a lower metabolic risk score (p ≤ 0.05).Conclusion: Multidimensional PA phenotypes derived from accelerometry identify clinically meaningful differences in body composition and metabolic risk beyond MVPA duration, supporting phenotype-based approaches for pediatric obesity risk stratification and intervention design.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42560380 · DOI · PMC13447327
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Global prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis [4]
- Research article Triglyceride-glucose index and heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis [5]
- Research article Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Impact of Bariatric Surgery on Future Cancer Risk [6]
- Research article Short-chain fatty acids and insulin sensitivity: a systematic review and meta-analysis [7]
- Research article Association between triglyceride glucose index and risk of cerebrovascular disease: systematic review and meta-analysis [8]
- Research article Association of Insulin Resistance With Cardiovascular Disease and All-Cause Mortality in Type 1 Diabetes: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis [9]
References
- Khatun M, Lundin K, Tuuri T, Piltonen T, Tapanainen JS, Salumets A. From Gene Function to Precision Intervention: CRISPR/Cas9 and Stem Cell-Based Strategies as Emerging Disease-Modifying Approaches in PMOS. . 2026. PMID 42412303 · DOI · PMC13550076
- Bruschetta G, Gembillo G, Lo Cicero L, D'Ascola A, Bruno F, Corsonello A, et al.. Serum Copper-to-Zinc Ratio and Oxidative Stress Are Associated with Anemia in Older Adults with Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Syndrome. . 2026. PMID 42450113 · DOI · PMC13361404
- Gatti A, Vandoni M, Cavallo C, Carnevale Pellino Carnevale Pellino V, Rossi V, Odone A, et al.. Beyond MVPA minutes: physical activity phenotypes are associated with metabolic profiles in children with obesity. . 2026. PMID 42560380 · DOI · PMC13447327
- En Li Cho E, Ang CZ, Quek J, Fu CE, Lim LKE, Heng ZEQ, et al.. Global prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Gut. 2023. PMID 37491159 · DOI
- Khalaji A, Behnoush AH, Khanmohammadi S, Ghanbari Mardasi K, Sharifkashani S, Sahebkar A, et al.. Triglyceride-glucose index and heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2023. PMID 37679763 · DOI · PMC10486123
- Wilson RB, Lathigara D, Kaushal D. Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Impact of Bariatric Surgery on Future Cancer Risk. Int J Mol Sci. 2023. PMID 37047163 · DOI · PMC10094585
- Pham NHT, Joglekar MV, Wong WKM, Nassif NT, Simpson AM, Hardikar AA. Short-chain fatty acids and insulin sensitivity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutr Rev. 2024. PMID 37290429 · DOI · PMC10777678
- Yan F, Yan S, Wang J, Cui Y, Chen F, Fang F, et al.. Association between triglyceride glucose index and risk of cerebrovascular disease: systematic review and meta-analysis. Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2022. PMID 36324146 · DOI · PMC9632026
- Sun R, Wang J, Li M, Li J, Pan Y, Liu B, et al.. Association of Insulin Resistance With Cardiovascular Disease and All-Cause Mortality in Type 1 Diabetes: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Diabetes Care. 2024. PMID 39018337 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-29.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.