Impact of Menstrual Cycle Phase on Insulin Sensitivity Measures and Fasting Lipids
Abstract
There is evidence to suggest that insulin sensitivity may vary in response to changes in sex hormone levels. However, the results of human studies designed to investigate changes in insulin sensitivity through the menstrual cycle have proved inconclusive. The aims of this study were to 1) evaluate the impact of menstrual cycle phase on insulin sensitivity measures and 2) determine the variability of insulin sensitivity measures within the same menstrual cycle phase. A controlled observational study of 13 healthy premenopausal women, not taking any hormone preparation and having regular menstrual cycles, was conducted. Insulin sensitivity (Si) and glucose effectiveness (Sg) were measured using an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) with minimal model analysis. Additional surrogate measures of insulin sensitivity were calculated (homoeostasis model for insulin resistance [HOMA IR], quantitative insulin-to-glucose check index [QUICKI] and revised QUICKI [rQUICKI]), as well as plasma lipids. Each woman was tested in the luteal and follicular phases of her menstrual cycle, and duplicate measures were taken in one phase of the cycle. No significant differences in insulin sensitivity (measured by the IVGTT or surrogate markers) or plasma lipids were reported between the two phases of the menstrual cycle or between duplicate measures within the same phase. It was concluded that variability in measures of insulin sensitivity were similar within and between menstrual phases.
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“Also, when insulin sensitivity was assessed during the menstrual cycle in young, healthy women by an IVGTT, no differences in insulin sensitivity were observed between the luteal phase and the mid-follicular phase (38).”
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- Authors
- Bingley, C., Gitau, R., & Lovegrove, J.
- Affiliations
- University of Reading (GB)
- Venue
- Hormone and Metabolic Research
- Publisher
- Georg Thieme Verlag KG
- Published
- 2008-08-22
- Volume
- 40
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 901-906
- ISSN
- 0018-5043 (ISSN-L)
- 1439-4286
- OpenAlex
- W1981894612
- Semantic Scholar
- 01c49ccf1cab82e87438d95fd5aed7917fd27d8a
- Cited by
- 39
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 1.96
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Hormone and Metabolic Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Ovarian function and disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Pancreatic function and diabetes
- Keywords
- menstrual cycle phases, insulin sensitivity, insulin resistance, luteal phase, follicular phase, sex hormones, fasting lipids, HOMA-IR, QUICKI, insulin/glucose ratio, intravenous glucose tolerance test, premenopausal women, measurement variability
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Blood Glucose, Female, Follicular Phase, Glucose Tolerance Test, Humans, Insulin, Insulin Resistance, Lipids, Luteal Phase, Menstrual Cycle, Middle Aged, Young Adult
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