Similarity of cutaneous reactive hyperemia in the forearm of women with and without hyperinsulinemia.
OBJECTIVE
The present study was undertaken to assess in pre- and postmenopausal women whether obesity influences cutaneous reactive hyperemia in the forearm.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Eight lean premenopausal (age 24.6+/-3.5 y, BMI=21.9+/-1.5 kg/m(2), mean+/-1 s.d.), eight obese premenopausal (age 27.8+/-5.1 y, BMI=35.3+/-5.8 kg/m(2)), eight lean postmenopausal (age 56.1+/-8.3 y, BMI=20.2+/-2.2 kg/m(2)) and eight obese postmenopausal women (age 57.4+/-6.1 y, BMI=32.8+/-3 kg/m(2)) were included. Plasma glucose, insulin and lipid profile were determined in fasting state, and a glucose tolerance test was performed. The skin blood flow response to transient occlusion of the forearm circulation (reactive hyperemia, RH) was measured using a laser-Doppler imaging system.


RESULTS
Obese women had hyperinsulinemia, suggesting that they were insulin-resistant. The magnitude of the RH was similar in postmenopausal compared to premenopausal women. Obesity did not influence this microvascular response.


CONCLUSIONS
Obesity, which is known to be associated with impaired endothelial-dependent vasodilation in the skeletal musculature, has no effect on the RH of the forearm skin microcirculation.
Seywert
A-J
AJ
Institute of Physiology, University of Lausanne, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland.
Kubli
S
S
Giusti
V
V
Feihl
F
F
Waeber
B
B
Tappy
L
L
D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D006940:Hyperemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006946:Hyperinsulinism / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology; D017697:Premenopause / Q000502:physiology; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*