Biochemical markers and methods to assess insulin resistance in normal, obese and hyperandrogenic women Marcadores bioquímicos y métodos de cuantificación de insulinorresistencia en mujeres normales, obesas e hiperandrogénicas

Abstract

Background: Euglycemic or hyperglycemic clamp and the frequently sampled iv glucose tolerance test are the most frequently used methods to assess insulin resistance. However, both are expensive and cumbersome. Aim: To evaluate the relative or discriminatory usefullness of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) and insulin like growth factor binding protein 1 (IGFBP-1) as markers of insulin resistance and to estimate the tissue sensitivity to insulin by means of the insulin tolerance test (ITT) and the frequently sampled in glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) In normal, obese and hyperandrogenic women. Subjects and methods: Six normal, 6 obese and 12 hyperandrogenic women of similar ages, were studied. In two consecutive days, the ITT and the IVGTT were performed and a basal blood sample was obtained to measure SHBG, DHEAS and IGFBP-1. Insulin sensitivity was calculated as the blood glucose slope in the ITT and with the minimal model of Bergman in the IV