Relationship between insulin sensitivity and the triglyceride-HDL-C ratio in overweight and obese postmenopausal women: a MONET study.

Abstract

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to examine the relationship between the triglyceride-HDL-cholesterol ratio (TG:HDL-C) and insulin sensitivity in overweight and obese sedentary postmenopausal women. The study population consisted of 131 non-diabetic overweight and obese sedentary postmenopausal women (age; 57.7+/-5.0 y; body mass index (BMI), 32.2+/-4.3 kg/m2). Subjects were characterized by dividing the entire cohort into tertiles based on the TG:HDL-C (T1<0.86 vs. T2=0.86 to 1.35 vs. T3>1.35, respectively). We measured (i) insulin sensitivity (using the hyperinsulinenic-euglycemic clamp and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA)), (ii) body composition (using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), (iii) visceral fat (using computed tomography), (iv) plasma lipids, C-reactive protein, 2 h glucose concentration during an oral glucose tolerance test (2 h glucose), as well as fasting glucose and insulin, (v) peak oxygen consumption, and (vi) lower-body muscle strength (using weight training equipment). Significant correlations were observed between the TG:HDL-C and the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp (r=-0.45; p<0.0001), as well as with HOMA (r=0.42; p<0.0001). Moreover, the TG:HDL-C significantly correlated with lean body mass, visceral fat, 2 h glucose, C-reactive protein, and muscle strength. Stepwise regression analysis showed that the TG:HDL-C explained 16.4% of the variation in glucose disposal in our cohort, which accounted for the greatest source of unique variance. Other independent predictors of glucose disposal were 2 h glucose (10.1%), C-reactive protein (CRP; 7.6%), and peak oxygen consumption (5.8%), collectively (including the TG:HDL-C) explaining 39.9% of the unique variance. In addition, the TG:HDL-C was the second predictor for HOMA, accounting for 11.7% of the variation. High levels of insulin sensitivity were associated with low levels of the TG:HDL-C. In addition, the TG:HDL-C was a predictor for glucose disposal rates and HOMA values in our cohort of overweight and obese postmenopausal women.

• Authors: Antony D Karelis, Stephanie M Pasternyk, Lyne Messier, David H St-Pierre, Jean-Marc Lavoie, Dominique Garrel, Rémi Rabasa-Lhoret
• Journal: Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism = Physiologie appliquee, nutrition et metabolisme (Appl Physiol Nutr Metab) Vol. 32 Issue 6 Pg. 1089-96 (Dec 2007) ISSN: 1715-5312 [Print] Canada
• PMID: 18059582 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Blood Glucose
• Cholesterol, HDL
• Triglycerides

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Anaerobic Threshold (physiology)
• Blood Glucose (metabolism)
• Body Composition (physiology)
• Cholesterol, HDL (blood)
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Diet
• Female
• Glucose Clamp Technique
• Homeostasis (physiology)
• Humans
• Insulin Resistance (physiology)
• Middle Aged
• Muscle Strength (physiology)
• Obesity (blood, physiopathology)
• Overweight (blood, physiopathology)
• Postmenopause (blood, physiology)
• Risk Factors
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• Triglycerides (blood)