Evaluation of various insulin sensitivity indices in lean idiopathic hirsutism patients.

missymoo Wed Jan 23, 2013 6:00 pm

Abstract
Hirsutism is characterized by excessive growth of terminal hair in a male pattern. Idiopathic hirsutism (IH) is a common cause of hirsutism. Since there are few data demonstrating IH is associated with insulin resistance, we tried to assess various insulin sensitivity indices in lean IH and compare with healthy subjects. A cross-sectional study was performed in 71 lean (BMI between 20-25 kg/m(2)) women (17-39 years old), 31 with IH and 40 healthy individuals. Blood glucose, insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), hepatic insulin sensitivity (ISI (HOMA)), Quicky index, reciprocal fasting insulin resistance index, fasting Belfiore index, and fasting glucose/insulin ration (GIR) were estimated using a single fasting sample of glucose and insulin levels. Raynaud indices calculated using the mathematical estimation in a single fasting sample of insulin levels were determined and compared in two groups. Fasting insulin, Raynaud index, HOMA-IR and Fasting insulin resistance index (FIRI) results were higher in IH group than in controls (p<0.01, for all). Fasting Belfiore index, QUICKI index, ISI(HOMA) and FIRI(-1) results were lower in IH group than in controls (p<0.01, for all). Our study showed that lean IH patients were more insulin resistant than healthy subjects. We propose that insulin sensitivity indices are useful methods for measuring insulin resistance in IH.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22322894

I know insulin resistance has been discussed to death here but I found it interesting and promising.

I am thin and have mild hirsutism, my blood tests always come back normal, never been diagnosed with PCOS, not sure if I've ever been tested properly for insulin resistance, I think only fasting glucose was tested.

If I google insulin resistance I'm always told that I'm not likely to have it because of my low weight and small waist line, the only symptom I have is constant sugar cravings.

This would explain so much for me, I was told that I suffer from this because my dad is hairy, the thing is all these hairs came up when I turned 20, after coming of an anti-candida diet and then starting to drink alcohol (what an assault that would have been to my system). These newer hairs are black, unlike the hair that came up during puberty; that doesn't sound like hair I was "programmed to have".

Could this also explain why some people have AGA and/or hirsutism but have normal androgen levels? Or does it still come down to follicle sensitivity?