High insulin levels are positively associated with peripheral nervous system function.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to analyze peripheral nervous system (PNS) function in overweight and obese individuals.


METHODS
Forty-four adult non-diabetic overweight individuals were recruited. Peroneal motor nerve conduction and radial, sural, and medial plantar sensory nerve conduction were studied. Insulin and glucose levels were determined twice (over a 2- to 3-year period) with an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Multiple stepwise linear regression models adjusted for age, height, weight, and skin temperature were used to analyze the data.


RESULTS
Analysis revealed that baseline insulin levels measured 120 min after an OGTT explained 18% of the variation in peroneal F-wave minimum latency, 8% of peroneal F-wave maximum latency variation, 15% of sural sensory latency variation, 13% of sural sensory nerve conduction velocity (NCV) variation, and 10% of the variation in medial plantar sensory NCV.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study shows that serum insulin levels measured 120 min after an OGGT are positively associated with PNS function. High insulin levels without notably high glucose levels appear to be beneficial for the function of the PNS.
Isojärvi
H
H
Department of Medical Technology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland. henriiso@paju.oulu.fi
Kallio
M
M
Korpelainen
R
R
Kaikkonen
K
K
Jämsä
T
T
Keinänen-Kiukaanniemi
S
S
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010543:Peroneal Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D011826:Radial Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D013979:Tibial Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin