Insulin gene variable number of tandem repeats regulatory polymorphism is not associated with hyperandrogenism in Spanish women☆
Received 16 July 2001; received in revised form 28 September 2001; accepted 28 September 2001.
Abstract
Objective: To determine if the insulin gene variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) regulatory polymorphism is associated with hyperandrogenism in a population of Spanish women.
Design: Controlled clinical study.
Setting: Tertiary institutional hospital.
Patient(s): Ninety-six hyperandrogenic patients and 38 healthy control women.
Intervention(s): Whole blood and serum samples were collected during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle.
Main Outcome Measure(s): Insulin gene VNTR regulatory polymorphism genotypes (classes I/I, I/III, and III/III alleles) and serum androgen levels. Insulin resistance was estimated from fasting glucose and insulin levels by using the homeostatic model assessment.
Result(s): The frequencies of VNTR genotypes were 45.5%, 43.3%, and 11.2% for I/I, I/III, and III/III alleles considering patients and controls as a whole. These frequencies were not statistically different in controls (47.4%, 34.2%, and 18.4%) and in patients (44.8%, 46.9%, and 8.3%).
Conclusion(s): Hyperandrogenism and the insulin gene VNTR regulatory polymorphism are not associated in Spanish women.
aDepartment of Endocrinology, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
bDepartment of Molecular Genetics, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
Reprint requests: Héctor F. Escobar-Morreale, M.D., Ph.D., Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Servicio de Endocrinologı́a, Carretera de Colmenar Km 9.1, Madrid-28034, Spain (FAX: 34-91-3369016)
☆ Supported by grants from the Consejerı́a de Educación y Cultura, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain (Proyectos 08.6/0022/1998 y 08.6/0024.2/2000) and from the Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria, Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo, Spain (Proyecto FIS 00/0414 to H.F.E.-M. and Contrato FIS 98/3044 to R.M.C.).
ABSTRACT