Insulin responses following glucose administration in menstruating women.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to investigate changes in insulin sensitivity during the menstrual cycle, in a group of regularly menstruating black African women.


METHODS
Insulin responses to intravenous glucose (300 mg/kg) were assessed, for up to 3 h, in 3 groups of age- and body mass-matched non-obese sedentary Nigerian women: Group A, 7 women in the menstrual follicular phase; Group B, 7 women in the menstrual luteal phase; C, 7 men.


RESULTS
Women in the menstrual luteal phase had the greatest integrated first-phase insulin response and insulin/glucose ratios, much higher than the similar values for these variables obtained in other groups. This suggests that the menstrual luteal phase is associated with relative insulin resistance.


CONCLUSIONS
Black African women in the menstrual luteal phase demonstrate an exaggerated insulin response to an acute glucose load and are thus relatively insulin-insensitive. This confirms previous observations in Caucasians.
Ezenwaka
E C
EC
Department of Chemical Pathology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Akanji
A O
AO
Adejuwon
C A
CA
Abbiyesuku
F M
FM
Akinlade
K S
KS
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000187:drug effects*; D005947:Glucose / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D005947:Glucose