Impaired fasting glycaemia in middle-aged women: a prospective study

OBJECTIVES: To investigate: (i) the incidence of impaired fasting glycaemia (IFG) developed over 5y in a population-based sample of Australian-born wo men; (ii) prospectively the factors which are associated with the developme nt of IFC; (iii) the association of the menopausal transition with the onse t of IFC and an increase in serum insulin concentrations. DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 265 women (110 pre-, 138 peri-, 17 postmenop ausal) participants in the longitudinal phase of the Melbourne Women's Midl ife Health Project, aged 46-57 and with normal fasting plasma glucose conce ntrations at the time of the initial measure, were interviewed, had physica l measurements and blood taken annually over a 5y follow-up period. RESULTS: During the study period 43 women (16%) recorded a fasting glucose concentration of greater than or equal to6.1 mmol/l (IFG). Women who record ed IFG prospectively had, at the time of the initial measure when lasting g lucose concentrations were normal: higher body mass index (BMI), trunk skin fold thicknesses, waist and hip circumferences (P < 0.005), lower SHBC, hig her free androgen index and serum insulin concentrations (P < 0.05), higher systolic blood pressure, serum triglyceride and lower HDL-cholesterol conc entrations (P < 0.05) than women whose fasting glucose concentrations remai ned normal. The onset of IFC was not triggered by the menopausal transition or hormone use. Changes in insulin concentration were associated with chan ges in BMI (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Women who developed IFC during the menopausal transition exhibi ted significantly higher levels of body fatness and dyslipidemia, premenopa usally, compared with the women who did not develop IFC. The menopausal tra nsition did not have an effect on the development of IFG, but weight gain d uring this period was associated with an increase in insulin concentration.