Effect of menopausal status on insulin-stimulated glucose disposal - Comparison of middle-aged premenopausal and early postmenopausal women

OBJECTIVE - Studies in animal models suggest that ovarian hormone deficienc y is associated with the development of insulin resistance. In women, ovari an hormone levels are dramatically reduced after the menopause transition. However, the effect of the menopause transition on insulin sensitivity is u nclear Thus, we examined the effect of menopausal status on insulin sensiti vity. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS- Insulin-stimulated glucose disposal was measur ed in 43 middle-aged premenopausal women (47 +/- 3 years of age) during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and 40 early postmenopausal women (51 +/- 4 years; time since menopause, 21 +/- 13 months) using the hyperinsulin emic-euglycemic clamp technique. Body composition was measured by dual-ener gy X-ray absorptiometry and abdominal fat distribution by computed tomograp hy. RESULTS - No difference in fat-free mass (FPM) was found between groups. To tal body (P < 0.01), subcutaneous abdominal (P < 0.05), and intra-abdominal (P < 0.01) adiposity were greater in postmenopausal women compared with pr emenopausal women. No differences in insulin-stimulated glucose disposal we re found between premenopausal and postmenopausal women on an absolute basi s (pre, 436 +/- 130 vs. post, 446 +/- 120 mg/min),when expressed relative t o FFM (pre, 10.7 +/- 3.0 vs. post, 11.5 +/- 3.6 mg.kg(-1) FFM.min(-1)) or w hen statistically adjusted for FFM (pre, 436 +/- 125 vs. post, 445 +/- 126 mg/min). CONCLUSIONS - These results suggest that menopausal status does not affect insulin sensitivity as measured by the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp te chnique.