21 Jun Adolescent Hyperinsulinemic Androgen Excess: Insulin Sensitization May Slow Biologic Aging

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Francis de Zegher, MD, PhD
Department of Development and Regeneration, University of Leuven
Leuven, Belgium &
Lourdes Ibáñez, MD, PhD
Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona
Barcelona, Spain

Medical Research: What is the background for this study?

Response: Hyperinsulinemic androgen excess is the most frequent hormonal disorder of adolescent girls. It seems to be mainly driven by an excessive and/or inappropriate storage of fat due to a chronically positive energy balance.

The traditional approach (not approved by FDA or EMA) is to silence the ovaries by giving an oral contraceptive.

An alternative approach is to change the storage of fat by giving an insulin-sensitizing combination of generics in low dose.

Medical Research: What are the main findings?

Response: It has previously been shown that the insulin-sensitizing approach has more normalizing effects than the oral-contraceptive approach.

Here, we add that prolonged insulin sensitization is also accompanied by a lengthening of telomeres and thus conceivably by a slower biologic aging of the girls.

Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report? What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Response: More head-to-head comparisons are needed before an insulin-sensitizing intervention can be approved (as an adjunct to lifestyle intervention) to treat adolescent girls with hyperinsulinemic androgen excess.

Citation:

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Francis de Zegher, MD, PhD Department of Development and Regeneration, University of LeuvenLeuven, Belgium &, Lourdes Ibáñez, MD, PhD, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, University of Barcelona, & Barcelona, Spain (2015). Adolescent Hyperinsulinemic Androgen Excess: Insulin Sensitization May Slow Biologic Aging

Last Updated on June 21, 2015 by Marie Benz MD FAAD