Distribution of Fasting Plasma Insulin, Free Fatty Acids, and Glucose Concentrations and of Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance in a Representative Sample of Quebec Children and Adolescents

Abstract

Background: Plasma fasting insulin and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) are markers of IR, which, at least in part, mediates the relation of obesity to increased cardiovascular risk. Increased free fatty acids (FFAs) may be involved in the pathogenesis of IR. Our objectives were to describe the distributions of fasting plasma insulin, glucose, and FFAs and HOMA-IR in youth and to assess the relationship between FFAs and markers of IR. Methods: Fasting plasma insulin, glucose, and FFAs were measured in a representative sample of Quebec youth comprising 2244 individuals 9, 13, and 16 years of age. Results: In all age and sex groups, glucose exhibited remarkably tight distributions (median CV, 7.1%) in contrast to insulin, HOMA-IR, and FFAs (median CVs, 52%, 54% and 45%, respectively). For every percentile examined, 9-year-olds had lower insulin concentrations and HOMA-IR values than 13-and 16-year-olds. We observed strong correlations between insulin concentrations and HOMA-IR values, as well as close similarity in their rankings of individuals. The mean concentrations of glucose were higher in our population than in

Incorporation of the fasting free fatty acid concentration into quantitative insulin sensitivity check index improves its association with insulin sensitivity in adults, but not in children

“…However, the absence of an association between FFA levels and insulin sensitivity is in line with two previous studies in children. These studies demonstrated that FFA levels were not associated with insulin sensitivity as estimated from fasting insulin and glucose levels (24)(25)(26). In addition, it should be pointed out that we did not observe any improvement in the association between QUICKI and clamp-derived insulin sensitivity after the incorporation of FFA levels.…”

Insulinemia e índice HOMA en niños y adolescentes chilenos

“…En esta muestra las mujeres presentaron mayor insulinemia y HOMA que los hombres, dimorfi smo reportado antes, aunque no siempre considerando la maduración puberal [24][25][26][27][28][29][30] . Verifi camos que la diferencia por sexo es independiente de la pubertad y que el aumento de ambos parámetros con la edad depende de la pubertad, ya que en la regresión múltiple la edad no fue signifi cativa.…”

“…Verifi camos que la diferencia por sexo es independiente de la pubertad y que el aumento de ambos parámetros con la edad depende de la pubertad, ya que en la regresión múltiple la edad no fue signifi cativa. La diferencia por sexo podría deberse a diferencias en estado nutricional, composición corporal o a un desfase temporal del "estirón" de talla 24,25 . La primera se descarta por ser todos eutrófi cos y sin diferencia de zIMC según sexo, aunque sí encontramos diferencia en zT/E y en %MG.…”

The gender insulin hypothesis: why girls are born lighter than boys, and the implications for insulin resistance

“…[15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] This sex difference in insulin resistance has usually been attributed to differences in adiposity or pubertal stage, but in studies which have adjusted for these factors 15,18 a residual difference remains which has not been explained. We have shown that girls are substantially (B33%) more insulin resistant than boys at 5 years 24 and in the years leading up to puberty.…”