Hyperinsulinemia in early menopause measured insulin resistance susceptibility

Weight gain in nonobese women at menopause appears to be associated with insulin resistance, which may aid in the identification of at-risk patients and implementation of preventive measures.

Researchers evaluated women who recorded a weight gain of 5 kg to 15 kg from the first to fifth year of menopause for weight, eating habits, body circumference, physical activity, fasting blood glucose, insulin and lipid profile. Subgroups of 21 hyperinsulinemic women and 21 normoinsulinemic women underwent an oral glucose tolerance test; the women were matched for age, weight, height, BMI and hysterectomy.

Of the 279 women who recorded a weight gain of 4.3 kg to 13.1 kg, 17.6% had an increased insulin level (108.53 pmol/L) compared with normoinsulinemic women (58.96 pmol/L; P,.001). Disparities were also noted in glucose levels (5.24 mmol/L vs. 5.05 mmol/L; P=.003), insulin resistance (2.01 vs. 1.10; P<.001), weight (72.6 kg vs. 69.9 kg; P=.023), BMI (28.3 vs. 27.2; P=.003) and waist circumference (89.8 cm vs. 86 cm; P<.001).

In addition, triglyceride levels were elevated in the hyperinsulinemic group vs. the normoinsulinemic group (1.47 mmol/L vs. 1.17 mmol/L, P=0.002) and HDL levels were lower in the hyperinsulinemic group vs. the normoinsulinemic group (1.54 mmol/L vs. 1.72 mmol/L, P=0.007).

Insulin levels were higher in the 21 hyperinsulinemic women compared with those in the normoinsulinemic group at all times when administered oral glucose tolerance tests, and glucose levels at one and two hours were also higher among hyperinsulinemic women and continued to be .6 mmol/L at two hours.

“The early identification of insulin resistance by the measurement of fasting insulin and glucose levels may be an important step to identify women at a greater risk to progress to glucose intolerance, metabolic syndrome, diabetes and cardiovascular disease,” the researchers wrote.

Lemay A. Menopause. 2010;17:321-325.