Insulin sensitivity and glucose-induced insulin response changes during adolescence

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Metabolic Health
• Adolescent Physiology

Background:

• Previous research indicated an inverse correlation between age and insulin resistance in young siblings of diabetic patients.
• The study focused on adolescents with the lowest insulin sensitivity to track age-related changes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To confirm the age-related pattern of change in insulin sensitivity and release in adolescents.
• To investigate the relationship between insulin sensitivity, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) during puberty.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study re-examining subjects after two years.
• Utilized the somatostatin-insulin-glucose infusion test to measure insulin sensitivity.
• Monitored fasting levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S).

Main Results:

• Significant increase in insulin sensitivity observed in both female and male participants (p = 0.02).
• A notable decrease in fasting insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels was recorded (p < 0.01).
• Increased dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) levels were observed in most subjects (p < 0.01).

Conclusions:

• Insulin sensitivity demonstrably increases during the late teenage period.
• The observed changes in insulin sensitivity correlate with IGF-1 levels, suggesting a role for growth hormone.
• The findings challenge the hypothesis that elevated DHEA-S levels are the primary cause of reduced pubertal insulin sensitivity.