Influence of basal androgen levels in euandrogenic women on glucose homeostasis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate possible relationships between insulin action and the normal variations of serum androgens in euandrogenic women.


METHODS
Prospective evaluation of insulin action in normal nonobese women using hyperglycemic and euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp techniques, correlating insulin action to serum testosterone (T), free T, androstenedione (A), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS). Statistical analysis used Spearman's rank correlation.


METHODS
Yale University Clinical Research Center.


METHODS
Nonobese females with normal oral glucose tolerance tests, on no medications known to affect glucose metabolism, having the following range of serum androgen levels: T, 0.69 to 3.12 nmol/L; free T, 0.17 to 1.25 nmol/L; A, 2.48 to 11.31 nmol/L; DHEAS, 0.68 to 10.61 mumol/L. Total number of patients studied: hyperglycemic clamps, n = 58; euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamps, n = 43.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Pancreatic insulin secretion in response to hyperglycemia and insulin action as assessed by insulin-mediated glucose utilization using the euglycemic, hyperinsulinemic clamp technique.


RESULTS
We identified no significant correlation between serum androgens and either glucose uptake or insulin-mediated glucose utilization. Glucose-stimulated insulin release was negatively correlated with serum T and free T throughout the normal range of these hormones.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that, within the normal range, variations of serum androgens are not correlated with changes in the response to insulin. It seems unlikely, therefore, that modest increases of serum androgens within the normal range are responsible for inducing insulin resistance.
Grainger
D
D
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
Thornton
K
K
Rossi
G
G
Connoly-Diamond
M
M
DeFronzo
R
R
Sherwin
R
R
Diamond
M P
MP
D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood*; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D005260:Female; D015309:Glucose Clamp Technique; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D000728:Androgens; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate