Background

Few studies using criterion measures of insulin sensitivity (SI) and insulin secretory capacity (ISC) have been conducted across puberty to adulthood. We examined how SI and ISC change from pre-puberty through adulthood.

Methods

Hyperglycemic clamp studies were performed in a convenience sample of non-Hispanic Black (NHB) and White children evaluated at age 6 to 12 years and at approximately 5-year intervals into adulthood (maximum age 27 years). SI and ISC (first-phase and steady-state insulin secretion) were determined cross-sectionally in 133 unique participants across puberty and in adulthood. Additionally, longitudinal changes in SI and ISC were compared at two timepoints among three groups defined by changes in pubertal development: pre-pubertal at baseline and late-pubertal at follow-up (n= 27), early-pubertal at baseline and late-pubertal at follow-up (n= 27), and late-pubertal at baseline and adult at follow-up (n= 24).

Results

Cross-sectionally, SI was highest in pre-puberty and early puberty and lowest in mid-puberty (analysis of covariance [ANCOVA] P= 0.001). Longitudinally, SI decreased from pre-puberty to late puberty (P< 0.001), then increased somewhat from late puberty to adulthood. Cross-sectionally, first-phase and steady-state ISC increased during puberty and decreased in adulthood (ANCOVA P< 0.02). Longitudinally, steady-state and first-phase ISC increased from pre-puberty to late puberty (P< 0.007), and steady-state ISC decreased from late puberty to adulthood. The NHB group had lower SI (P= 0.003) and greater first-phase and steady-state ISC (P≤ 0.001), independent of pubertal development.

Conclusion

This study confirms that SI decreases and ISC increases transiently during puberty and shows that these changes largely resolve in adulthood.