Hyperinsulinemia in African-American Adolescents Compared With Their American White Peers Despite Similar Insulin Sensitivity
A reflection of upregulated β-cell function?
- Tamara S. Hannon, MD1,
- Fida Bacha, MD1,
- Yan Lin, PHD2 and
- Silva A. Arslanian, MD1
- 1Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- 2Center for Research on Health Care, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Corresponding author: Tamara S. Hannon, tamara.hannon{at}chp.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVE—African-American (AA) children are hyperinsulinemic and insulin resistant compared with American white (AW) children. Previously, we demonstrated that insulin secretion relative to insulin sensitivity was ∼75% higher in AA compared with AW children, suggesting that hyperinsulinemia in AA children is not merely a compensatory response to lower insulin sensitivity. The aim of the present investigation was to assess whether glucose-stimulated insulin response is higher in AA versus AW adolescents who have comparable in vivo insulin sensitivity.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—The hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic and hyperglycemic clamp techniques were utilized to assess first- and second-phase insulin secretion. Insulin secretion relative to insulin sensitivity was calculated as the glucose disposition index.
RESULTS—AA adolescents compared with their AW peers with comparable insulin sensitivity and body composition had higher first-phase insulin concentrations.
CONCLUSIONS—The quantitative relationship between insulin sensitivity and first-phase insulin appears to differ among AA and AW adolescents.
Footnotes
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Published ahead of print at http://care.diabetesjournals.org on 16 April 2008.
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- Accepted April 9, 2008.
- Received January 22, 2008.
- DIABETES CARE
