[Glucose tolerance test and insulinemia in workers occupationally exposed to vibration and noise]

Oral glucose test and serum insulin determination was performed in 192 workers of a large metallurgical factory. The subjects were divided into four groups: 1. exposed to isolated noise, 2. exposed to local vibration, 3. exposed to the whole body vibration, and 4. control group. In the group exposed to the whole body vibration more frequent occurrence of higher glucose and serum insulin concentrations were found when compared with the control group. The observed changes were caused by low and medium frequency of the whole body vibration.