ABSTRACT
Consumption of high-fat diet leads to the increase of fat intake and consequent excess storage of fat in the body. When the regular adipose tissues reach their capacity to store fat, ectopic fat is stored around and within non-adipose tissues, such as the liver and skeletal muscle, which plays important roles in glucose metabolism. Hence ectopic fat accumulation in major insulin target tissues is a critical determinant of insulin resistance (IR) and various related metabolic syndromes. Recent studies have shown that skeletal muscle lipid accumulation is more closely related with IR than general obesity and accounts for approximately 80%-90% type 2 diabetes, since the skeletal muscle is the largest glucose disposal site. Therefore, the association between skeletal muscle lipid and IR has attracted more and more research interest. This review summarized the role of ectopic skeletal muscle lipid in IR induced by high-fat diet and its possible mechanisms.