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Association of elevated insulin‐like growth factor binding protein‐1 with insulin resistance in hyperthyroidism
Author(s) -
Jenkins Richard C.,
Valcavi Roberto,
Zini Michele,
Frasoldati Andrea,
Heller Simon R.,
CamachoHubner Cecilia,
Gibson J. Martin,
Westwood Melissa,
Ross Richard J. M.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
clinical endocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1365-2265
pISSN - 0300-0664
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2265.2000.00924.x
Subject(s) - medicine , endocrinology , euthyroid , insulin , insulin resistance , glucose homeostasis , glucagon , impaired glucose tolerance , homeostasis , glucose tolerance test , hormone
OBJECTIVE Insulin‐like growth factor binding‐protein‐1 (IGFBP‐1) has a role in glucose homeostasis and is present at high concentrations in hyperthyroidism. We have investigated the relationship between IGFBP‐1 concentration and glucose homeostasis in hyperthyroidism. DESIGN Patients and controls had intravenous glucose tolerance tests (IVGTT) and/or oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT). Patients were tested when hyperthyroid and when euthyroid whilst the controls were tested once. The IVGTT was used to assess insulin sensitivity and the OGTT to establish that the study group had abnormal glucose tolerance. The hyperthyroid patients were treated with methimazole to restore euthyroidism. PATIENTS Ten patients (9 females) and 13 healthy controls (9 females) consented to the study. Ten patients and nine controls (7 females) had IVGTT. Six patients (5 females) and six controls (4 females) had OGTT. MEASUREMENTS Glucose, insulin, glucagon, GH and IGFBP‐1 were measured during GTT. IGF‐I, free thyroid hormones, and TSH concentrations were measured basally. RESULTS Hyperthyroid subjects were insulin resistant and 67% had impaired glucose tolerance. Fasting IGFBP‐1 levels were doubled in hyperthyroid subjects compared to healthy controls and correlated positively with free T4 ( r = 0.84, P < 0.0001), with peak glucose during the OGTT ( r = 0.68, P < 0.005) with peak insulin during the IVGTT ( r = 0.51, P < 0.005) and negatively with glucose disappearance constant ( r = − 0.52, P < 0.005). IGFBP‐1 was highly phosphorylated in hyperthyroid and control subjects. Fasting insulin and IGFBP‐1 levels were unrelated but IGFBP‐1 suppressed acutely during GTT in all groups. GH levels fell less in patients with hyperthyroidism than in normals during GTTs. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that in hyperthyroidism thyroid hormones directly increase fasting IGFBP‐1 concentration but acute regulation of IGFBP‐1 by insulin is normal and that elevated fasting phosphorylated IGFBP‐1 concentration is associated with insulin resistance.