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Glucose and insulin tolerance throughout the menstrual cycle
Acta Europaea Fertilitatis
|March 1, 1975
Summary
Menstrual cycle hormonal shifts affect how women
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Reproductive Physiology
Background:
- Plasma levels of pituitary hormones fluctuate during the menstrual cycle.
- These hormonal variations may influence metabolic responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of menstrual cycle phases on responses to oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) and insulin tolerance tests (ITT).
- To assess changes in plasma glucose, insulin, human growth hormone (HGH), and cortisol levels during different cycle phases.
Main Methods:
- Plasma levels of glucose, insulin (IRI), HGH, and cortisol were measured during the follicular, ovulatory, and luteal phases.
- The effects of OGTT and ITT were evaluated across these phases.
Main Results:
- Significantly lower insulin, HGH, and cortisol levels were observed in the follicular phase compared to ovulatory and luteal phases (except cortisol in the luteal phase).
- Higher glucose tolerance and reduced hypoglycemia under insulin load were noted in the follicular phase.
- Blunted HGH and cortisol responses to ITT were found in the follicular phase.
Conclusions:
- Hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle significantly alter the body's response to glucose and insulin challenges.
- These findings highlight the influence of the ovulatory cycle on endocrine and metabolic regulation in women.