title: Normalization of hyperinsulinemia by chronic opioid receptor blockade in hyperandrogenemic women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluation of the effects of naltrexone on hyperinsulinemia and hyperandrogenemia in hyperandrogenemic, hyperinsulinemic women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Controlled clinical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Gynecologic Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, Center of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine hyperandrogenemic, hyperinsulinemic women were studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women were treated with naltrexone (50 mg/d) for >or=3 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Body mass index (BMI), gonadotropin (LH, FSH) and androgen (T, free T, DHEAS) levels, and plasma levels of glucose, insulin, and C-peptide, during a standard 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), were determined before and during chronic opiate receptor blockade.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The BMI did not change during therapy. When OGTT was repeated after treatment with naltrexone, glucose levels were not different from those before treatment. Insulin response, however, had dramatically declined. We also observed a significant decrease in the levels of serum androgens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hyperinsulinemia associated with hyperandrogenemia can be improved or completely abolished by chronic opiate receptor blockade. This observation suggests that endogenous opiates play a critical role in the process leading to hyperinsulinemia in hyperandrogenemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecologic Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria. dijanah@gmx.de
authors.forename: Dijana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hadziomerović
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rabenbauer
authors.forename: Ludwig
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wildt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017588:Hyperandrogenism / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006946:Hyperinsulinism / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D007328:Insulin; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009271:Naltrexone