[Insulin resistance index: measurement and potential in human reproduction]

Insulin resistance (IRI) applies to abnormalities of insulin-stimulated glucose metabolism. Biochemical events related to this phenomenon are difficult to search in the absence of overt diabetes mellitus. A simple method to quantify insulin resistance was assessed through the measurement of glucose and insulin (fasting glucose [mmol/L] x fasting insulin [mU/L]/22.5) in patients (n = 50) attending our clinic of human reproduction, including controls (n = 10) and diabetics either unstable or under control (n = 5). Cases with obesity, polycystic ovarian disease, diabetes mellitus, infertility and hypoglycemia showed higher (p = 0.01-0.05) IRI changes, inversely correlated with a decreasing fasting glucose observed in diabetics under treatment with various degrees of control. We conclude that the IRI method used in this work is a reliable estimate of insulin resistance with potential applications for the study of reproductive biology.