[Effect of hormone replacement with tibolone on plasma insulin and blood glucose in postmenopause]. / Efecto del reemplazo hormonal con tibolona sobre la insulina plasmática y la glucemia en la posmenopausia.

ABSTRACT

The effect of Tibolone, and estrogen-like therapeutic agent used for menopause, on insulin and glucose was investigated in 18 healthy postmenopausal women. At baseline and after 3 months of Tibolone, 2.5 mg daily, blood levels of glucose and insulin were evaluated in each participant. Fasting levels of glucose were not modified by Tibolone, whereas plasmatic insulin levels were reduced significantly (p < 0.01). High-density lipoprotein cholesterol and total cholesterol were not affected by Tibolone. From these data it may be suggested that Tibolone does not negatively influence glucose fasting levels, but reduces the already elevated insulin levels which may be due to an improvement in peripheral tissue sensitivity to insulin.