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Influence of melatonin administration on glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity of postmenopausal women
Author(s) -
Cagnacci Angelo,
Arangino Serenella,
Renzi Antonietta,
Paoletti Anna Maria,
Melis Gian Benedetto,
Cagnacci Paolo,
Volpe Annibale
Publication year - 2001
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.1365-2265.2001.01232.x
Subject(s) - melatonin , medicine , endocrinology , placebo , insulin , glucose tolerance test , insulin resistance , carbohydrate metabolism , area under the curve , hormone , insulin sensitivity , pancreatic hormone , alternative medicine , pathology
The effect of melatonin on human carbohydrate metabolism is not yet clear. We investigated whether melatonin influences glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in aged women. Twenty‐two postmenopausal women of whom 14 were on hormone replacement therapy. After an overnight fast, at 0800 hours on two nonconsecutive days, placebo or melatonin (1 mg) were administered randomly and in a double blind fashion. Forty‐five minutes later, an oral glucose tolerance test (75 g; OGTT) was performed in 13 women. In another nine women insulin‐dependent (Si) and ‐independent (Sg) glucose utilization was tested by a frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test (FSIGT). Areas under the response curve to OGTT (AUC) for glucose (1420 ± 59 vs. 1250 ± 55 mmol × min/l; P < 0·01), and C‐peptide (420980 ± 45320 vs. 33528 ± 15779 pmol × min/l; P < 0·02) were higher following melatonin than placebo, while Si values were lower (2·6 ± 0·28 units vs. 3·49 ± 0·4 units; P < 0·03). Si modifications induced by melatonin were inversely related to Si values of the placebo day ( r 2 = 0·538; P < 0·025). The present results indicate that in aged women administration of 1 mg of melatonin reduces glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. The present data may have both physiological and clinical implications.