Association of serum phosphate levels with glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion in non-diabetic subjects.
BACKGROUND
Hypophosphatemia is associated with impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance in primary hyperparathyroidism. However, little is known about the association between serum phosphate and glucose metabolism in healthy subjects.


METHODS
We measured fasting serum phosphate levels (SP, normal range 2.6-4.5 mg/dl) and serum calcium (S-Ca, normal range 2.1-2.6 mmol/l) in 881 non-diabetic subjects (341 male/540 female, age: 38+/-1 years, body mass index 25.9+/-0.2 kg/m(2) (mean+/-standard error of the mean). An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) with determination of glucose and insulin every 30 min was performed in all subjects. Insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity (IS) were estimated from the OGTT using validated indices. Furthermore, we tested whether serum phosphate predicts glucose tolerance in 115 subjects during a lifestyle intervention program (LIP).


RESULTS
Serum phosphate was negatively correlated with 2-h blood glucose levels independent of age, gender and percent body fat (r=-0.13, P<0.0001). This association remained significant after additional adjustment for S-Ca, creatinine and parathyroid hormone. Serum phosphate was positively correlated with IS (r=0.10, P=0.0006), but not with insulin secretion. This was independent of age, gender, percent body fat, S-Ca and serum creatinine. In the subjects taking part in the LIP low serum phosphate levels at baseline were associated with higher postprandial glucose levels.


CONCLUSIONS
In non-diabetic subjects, low serum phosphate levels are associated with high 2-h blood glucose levels and reduced IS. Whether low serum phosphate levels are a cause or a consequence of low IS and impairment of glucose tolerance needs to be tested in further studies.
Haap
M
M
Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism, Pathobiochemistry, Vascular Medicine and Nephrology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
Heller
E
E
Thamer
C
C
Tschritter
O
O
Stefan
N
N
Fritsche
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D015309:Glucose Clamp Technique; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010710:Phosphates / Q000097:blood*; D019518:Postprandial Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D010710:Phosphates; D002118:Calcium