Good insulin sensitivity is independently associated with a low risk for coronary heart disease, but it is unclear whether this risk factor differs between men and women. We compared insulin sensitivity of glucose uptake directly in muscle and heart tissues between healthy women (age 29 ± 2 years, body mass index [BMI] 22 ± 1 kg/m2, VO2max 39 ± 4 ml · kg−1 · min−1) and men matched for age (31 ± 2 years), BMI (23 ± 1 kg/m2), and VO2max (44 ± 3 ml · kg−1 · min−1) using [18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose and positron emission tomography under hyperinsulinemic (insulin infusion rate 1 mU · kg−1 · min−1) normoglycemic conditions. Whole body insulin sensitivity was 41% greater in women (52 ± 6 μmol · kg body wt−1 · min−1) than in men (37 ± 3 μmol · kg body wt−1 · min−1, P < 0.05). This difference was explained by a 47% greater rate of glucose uptake by femoral muscles (113 ± 10 vs. 77 ± 7 μmol · kg muscle−1 · min−1, women vs. men, P < 0.01). Insulin-stimulated glucose uptake rates in the heart were similar in women (738 ± 58) and men (749 ± 62 μmol · kg muscle−1 · min−1). Femoral muscle insulin sensitivity was closely correlated with whole body insulin sensitivity (r = 0.84, P < 0.001). Gender and VO2max together explained 68% of the variation in femoral muscle glucose uptake. We conclude that women are more sensitive to insulin than equally fit men because of enhanced muscle but not heart insulin sensitivity.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
Original Articles|
January 01 1995
Gender and Insulin Sensitivity in the Heart and in Skeletal Muscles: Studies Using Positron Emission Tomography
Pirjo Nuutila;
Pirjo Nuutila
Department of Medicine, University of Turku
Finland
Search for other works by this author on:
M Juhani Knuuti;
M Juhani Knuuti
Turku University Cyclotron/PET Center, University of Turku
Finland
Search for other works by this author on:
Maija Mäki;
Maija Mäki
Department of Clinical Physiology, University of Turku
Finland
Search for other works by this author on:
Hanna Laine;
Hanna Laine
Department of Medicine, University of Turku
Finland
Search for other works by this author on:
Ulla Ruotsalainen;
Ulla Ruotsalainen
Turku University Cyclotron/PET Center, University of Turku
Finland
Search for other works by this author on:
Mika Teräs;
Mika Teräs
Turku University Cyclotron/PET Center, University of Turku
Finland
Search for other works by this author on:
Mikko Haaparanta;
Mikko Haaparanta
Turku University Cyclotron/PET Center, University of Turku
Finland
Search for other works by this author on:
Olof Solin;
Olof Solin
Accelerator Laboratory, Åbo Akademi
Finland
Search for other works by this author on:
Hannele Yki-Järvinen
Hannele Yki-Järvinen
Department of Medicine, University of Helsinki
Finland
Search for other works by this author on:
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Hannele Yki-Järvinen, Third Department of Medicine, Haartmaninkatu 4, FIN-00290 Helsinki, Finland.
Diabetes 1995;44(1):31–36
Article history
Received:
July 19 1994
Revision Received:
September 21 1994
Accepted:
September 21 1994
Citation
Pirjo Nuutila, M Juhani Knuuti, Maija Mäki, Hanna Laine, Ulla Ruotsalainen, Mika Teräs, Mikko Haaparanta, Olof Solin, Hannele Yki-Järvinen; Gender and Insulin Sensitivity in the Heart and in Skeletal Muscles: Studies Using Positron Emission Tomography. Diabetes 1 January 1995; 44 (1): 31–36. https://doi.org/10.2337/diab.44.1.31
Download citation file:
121
Views