Insulin gene variable number of tandem repeats regulatory polymorphism is not associated with hyperandrogenism in Spanish women.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if the insulin gene variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) regulatory polymorphism is associated with hyperandrogenism in a population of Spanish women.

DESIGN

Controlled clinical study.

SETTING

Tertiary institutional hospital.

PATIENT(S): Ninety-six hyperandrogenic patients and 38 healthy control women.

INTERVENTION(S): Whole blood and serum samples were collected during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Insulin gene VNTR regulatory polymorphism genotypes (classes I/I, I/III, and III/III alleles) and serum androgen levels. Insulin resistance was estimated from fasting glucose and insulin levels by using the homeostatic model assessment.

RESULT(S): The frequencies of VNTR genotypes were 45.5%, 43.3%, and 11.2% for I/I, I/III, and III/III alleles considering patients and controls as a whole. These frequencies were not statistically different in controls (47.4%, 34.2%, and 18.4%) and in patients (44.8%, 46.9%, and 8.3%).

CONCLUSION(S): Hyperandrogenism and the insulin gene VNTR regulatory polymorphism are not associated in Spanish women.