Pancreatic beta-cell hyperactivity in morbidly obese adolescents.

beta-cell hyperactivity, with increased beta-cell mass in the pancreas, contributes to insulin oversecretion in response to insulin resistance. beta-cell mass expansion, also known as "endocrine pancreas plasticity", is an adaptation to variations in insulin demand, is generally observed in obese persons and in women during late pregnancy. In obese persons, increased free fatty acids contribute to beta-cell growth. It is believed that type 2 diabetes develops in those persons unable to respond to an increased insulin demand with a high rate of beta-cell proliferation. Impairment of insulin secretion may originate from a genetic predisposition as well as aggravated by high lipid and glucose levels. Better understanding of endocrine pancreas plasticity and its regeneration mechanisms could lead to new treatment modalities for type 2 diabetes. Review of literature of pancreatic beta-cell hyperactivity in obesity and its existence in morbidly obese adolescents is hereby presented.