Serum insulin response to oral glucose load during a dietary intervention trial in healthy coronary high risk men: the Oslo Study

Abstract

The effect of an ordinary lipid-lowering diet on serum insulin response to oral glucose load was investigated in a randomized, primary preventive trial of the Oslo Study of coronary heart disease in healthy high risk middle aged men. After 3 years intervention the treated group showed a significantly lower insulin response curve, a lower serum total cholesterol, a higher cholesterol ratio (defined as the ratio between high density lipoprotein cholesterol and low density + very low density lipoprotein cholesterol), lower fasting triglycerides and lower relative body weight than the control group. Increased levels of serum insulin and elevated insulin response to oral glucose load has been shown in earlier studies to be associated with increased susceptibility for atherosclerotic diseases. Therefore, it might be of importance, that lipid-lowering diets induce a lowering of serum insulin response in healthy, coronary prone men. As a contrast to the two high risk groups, the very low response curve of serum insulin and glucose in a group of coronary low risk men is also presented, and it is suggested that serum insulin levels should be added to the coronary prone syndrome of hyperlipidemia, obesity and physical inactivity.

Key Words:

• coronary risk
• hyperinsulinemia
• hyperlipidemia
• obesity
• physical inactivity