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Glucose tolerance and insulin release in adolescent female
L Benassi1, G Tridenti, N Orlandi
1Cattedra di Ginecologia dell'Infanzia e dell'Adolescenza, Università di Parma, Italy.
Journal of Endocrinological Investigation
|October 1, 1991
Summary
Adolescent girls exhibit persistent metabolic patterns, including higher insulin secretion and growth hormone (GH) levels, even after sexual development. These findings suggest GH plays a role in adolescent glucose metabolism impairment.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Metabolic Research
- Adolescent Medicine
Background:
- Adolescence involves increased insulin requirements, met by heightened insulin secretion.
- This adolescent metabolic pattern, characterized by decreased insulin sensitivity, typically resolves in adulthood.
- The exact cause of reduced insulin sensitivity during adolescence remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the metabolic patterns of late adolescent girls with young adult women.
- To investigate the persistence of adolescent metabolic characteristics beyond sexual development.
- To explore the relationship between growth hormone (GH) and glucose metabolism.
Main Methods:
- Utilized intravenous glucose tolerance tests (IVGTT) and arginine tests (ATT).
- Compared late adolescent girls (13-16 years) with young adult women (21-30 years) with similar BMIs.
- Measured plasma glucose, insulin, C-peptide, glucagon, and GH levels.
Main Results:
- Adolescents showed similar glucose tolerance (k) but higher insulin and C-peptide responses during IVGTT compared to adults.
- Arginine tests revealed similar glucose, insulin, and glucagon levels but higher GH in adolescents.
- A significant positive correlation was found between GH response to arginine and beta-cell response to glucose in adolescent girls.
Conclusions:
- The distinct metabolic pattern observed in adolescence persists after sexual development.
- Growth hormone (GH) appears to play a significant role in the impaired glucose metabolism characteristic of adolescence.
- GH influences beta-cell function and glucose regulation in adolescent females.