Abstract

BARACCO MAGGI, Rossana; MOHANNA BARRENECHEA, Salim  and  SECLEN SANTISTEBAN, Segundo. Determination of insulin sensitivity through the HOMA method in adult populations living at the highlands and at sea level. Rev Med Hered [online]. 2006, vol.17, n.4, pp.206-211. ISSN 1018-130X.

Previous studies have proposed that the highlands native has better insulin sensitivity. The HOMA measures insulin sensitivity and has found acceptance in population studies. Objectives: To determin and to compare insulin sensitivity by HOMA in adult populations from high altitude compared with sea level. Materials and Methods: A descriptive, comparative study of two populations: San Pedro de Cajas (SPC) (4 100 meters above sea level) and Rimac (sea level) was done. Two hundred and fifty four individuals were studied, 90 from SPC (60 women and 30 men) and 164 from Rimac (104 women and 60 men). Weight, height, body mass index (BMI), glycemia, basal insulinemia and HOMA were determined. Results: Insulin levels of SPC were lower than those from Rimac (5.19 vs. 14.47 uU/ml; p < 0.001). When divided by gender, both men (4.56 vs. 12.80 uU/ml; p < 0.001) and women from SPC (5.51 vs. 15.43 uU/ml; p < 0.001) had a lower insulinemia than those from Rimac. HOMA of individuals from SPC was lower than that Rimac participants (1.14 vs. 3.53 uU/ml x mmol/l; p < 0.05). When divided by gender, both men and women from SPC had a lower HOMA than those from Rimac. There was a correlation between HOMA and BMI, weight and insulinemia of both populations. Conclusion: The high altitude native has lower levels of basal insulinemia and HOMA than that of the sea level inhabitant as a consequence of a greater insulin sensibility, probably conditioned by metabolic changes due to hypoxia. Aging of the sea level inhabitant leads to a decrease in the insulin sensibility of the sea level inhabitant, whereas this was not demonstrated for the high altitude native. (Rev Med Hered 2006;17:206-211).

Keywords : HOMA; insulin; high altitudes; glycemia.

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