Metabolic effects of tibolone in postmenopausal women with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.
OBJECTIVE
Postmenopausal women with non-insulin dependent diabetes (NIDDM) are frequently obese, hypertensive and hyperlipidaemic and hence at particular risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). They might therefore benefit from menopausal therapy. In view of the improvement in insulin sensitivity and the reduction in triglyceride levels induced by tibolone in healthy postmenopausal women we evaluated the effects of 12 months of tibolone on glycaemic control, serum insulin and lipid levels in postmenopausal women with NIDDM.


METHODS
A prospective 12 months before/after intervention study.


METHODS
Fourteen postmenopausal women (mean age 58.14 +/- 1.25 years; mean duration of menopause 121.21 +/- 13.42 months; mean BMI: 26.55 +/- 0.97) with NIDDM (mean duration of diabetes 113.79 +/- 13.89 months).


METHODS
Fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels were assessed monthly, serum fructosamine, fasting and postprandial insulin every 3 months and serum lipids (total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol) every 6 months.


RESULTS
Changes in blood glucose, both fasting and postprandial, were not statistically significant during the treatment period. Serum fructosamine concentration increased significantly after 9 months. A significant decrease in fasting and postprandial insulin concentrations was observed after 9 months. A non-significant decrease was observed in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride but no change in HDL cholesterol. Body weight did not change during the period of observation.


CONCLUSIONS
A slight deterioration in glycaemic control, a fall in insulin concentration and no change in serum lipids were observed in women with NIDDM during 12 months treatment with tibolone.
Prelevic
G M
GM
Academic Department of Medicine, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK.
Beljic
T
T
Balint-Peric
L
L
Ginsburg
J
J
D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D019270:Fructosamine / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D009652:Norpregnenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000187:drug effects*; D019518:Postprandial Period / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
D045930:Anabolic Agents; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids; D009652:Norpregnenes; D019270:Fructosamine; C027385:tibolone