This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Cagnacci, A. Articles by Melis, G. B. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Cagnacci, A. Articles by Melis, G. B.

Effect of Tibolone on Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in Postmenopausal Women

Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology (A.C., E.M., F.T., G.B.M.), Institute of Internal Medicine (R.C., A.M.S.), University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Angelo Cagnacci, M.D., Istituto di Fisiopatologia della Riproduzione Umana, Università di Modena, via del Pozzo 71, 41100 Modena, Italy.

The effect of tibolone, a new therapeutic agent for menopause, on glucose and lipid metabolism was investigated in 11 healthy postmenopausal women. At baseline and after 3 months of tibolone administration (2.5 mg/day), glucose metabolism was evaluated in each subject using both an oral glucose tolerance test (75 g) and the minimal model method of a frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test. Frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test allows the calculation of insulin sensitivity and peripheral glucose use independent of insulin. High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, total cholesterol, apoprotein-A, and apoprotein-B measured in fasting conditions were not modified by tibolone, whereas triglycerides were reduced significantly (P < 0.01). Fasting levels of glucose were reduced significantly (P < 0.025), whereas those of insulin, C-peptide, and the C-peptide/insulin ratio were not modified. Glucose, insulin, C-peptide, and the C-peptide/insulin ratio responses to oral or iv glucose were not modified. Insulin sensitivity was inversely correlated to body mass index, and independent on that body mass index was significantly enhanced (P < 0.01). Glucose utilization independent of insulin was not modified. The present data indicate that tibolone does not negatively influence glucose metabolism and may indeed improve both the peripheral tissue sensitivity to insulin and the lipid profile.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. Garnero, C. Jamin, C.-L. Benhamou, C. Pelissier, and C. Roux Effects of tibolone and combined 17{beta}-estradiol and norethisterone acetate on serum C-reactive protein in healthy post-menopausal women: a randomized trial Hum. Reprod., October 1, 2002; 17(10): 2748 - 2753. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Cagnacci, A. M. Paoletti, A. Zanni, S. Arangino, G. Ibba, M. Orru, G. B. Melis, and A. Volpe Raloxifene Does Not Modify Insulin Sensitivity and Glucose Metabolism in Postmenopausal Women J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., September 1, 2002; 87(9): 4117 - 4121. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]