Undernutrition has a known and well recognized negative impact on reproductive hormones, and ultimately fertility. In contrast, much less is known regarding the potential effects of overnutrition on the same hormones. Epidemiological data suggest that overnutrition might have a deleterious impact as well on the fertile potential of affected women, but very little is known about the mechanisms implicated. Such knowledge may be of importance, given the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity worldwide.
In the present study, the investigators will perform a very detailed study of the minute to minute regulation of hormones of the neuroendocrine reproductive axis in normal young female volunteers. These studies will initially be performed at base line during isocaloric diet, where the stimulation of LH secretion by exogenous insulin will be tested during hyperinsulinemic eugylcemic clamp studies. The same studies will then be repeated after a period of one month of controlled hypercaloric diet, where volunteers will receive an excess of approximately 30% KCal compared to their calculated daily energy expenditure. it is anticipated that such hypercaloric nutrition will induce a significant decrease in normal insulin sensitivity of these volunteers. Thus, the effect of changing whole body insulin sensitivity on the fine regulation of neuroendocrine reproductive hormones will be evaluated.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
9
Volunteers will be submitted to hyperinsulinemic, euglycemic clamp studies of 10 hours duration.
Hypercaloric diet will be conducted during one month, and designed to provide 30% excess in calories compared to daily requirements. It will consist in a high fat, high carbohydrates diet.
Keeping the volunteers in the fasting state overnight and for the entire duration of the experiment (10 hours)
Clinical Research Center, University Hospital
Lausanne, Canton of Vaud, Switzerland
Luteinizing hormone secretion
The pulsatility of LH will be assessed by measuring LH levels in blood sample obtained every ten minutes over the entire study period (12 hours).
Time frame: Every ten minutes for 10 hours
Insulin sensitivity
Insulin sensitivity will be defined as the rate of glucose infusion required to maintain euglycemia during the hyperinsulinemic clamp
Time frame: 10 hours
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Isocaloric diet will conducted for one month, and designed to provide the calculated daily energy needs