Submitted on February 10, 2009
Revised on June 9, 2009
Accepted on June 17, 2009
Effects of the phases of the menstrual cycle on gastric emptying of glucose, glycemia, plasma GLP-1 and insulin, and energy intake in healthy lean women
Ixchel M Brennan1, Kate L Feltrin2, Nivasinee S Nair3, Trygve Hausken, Tanya Jane Little4, Diana Gentilcore1, Judith M. Wishart, Karen L. Jones5, Michael Horowitz5, and Christine Feinle-Bisset6*
1 University of Adelaide, Royal Adelaide Hospital
2 University of Adelaide, Royal Adelaide Hopsital
3 University of Adelaide Discipline of Medicine, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
4 University of Manchester
5 University of Adelaide
6 University of Adelaide Discipline of Medicine and NHMRC Centre of Clinical Research Excellence in Nutritional Physiology, Interventions and Outcomes
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: christine.feinle{at}adelaide.edu.au.
There is evidence that the menstrual cycle affects appetite, such that energy intake is lower during the follicular, compared with the luteal, phase. Gastric emptying influences energy intake, glycemia and plasma glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), insulin and cholecystokinin (CCK) release. We hypothesized that (i) gastric emptying of a glucose drink is slower, and glycemia, plasma hormones, hunger and energy intake are less, during the follicular, compared with the luteal, phase, (ii) the reduction in the latter parameters during the follicular phase are related to slower gastric emptying, and (iii) these parameters are reproducible when assessed twice within a particular phase of the menstrual cycle. Nine healthy, lean females were studied on 3 separate occasions; twice during the follicular (days 6-12), and once during the luteal (days 18-24), phase. Following consumption of a 300 ml glucose drink (0.17 g/ml), gastric emptying, blood glucose, plasma hormone concentrations and hunger were measured for 90 min, after which energy intake at a buffet meal was quantified. During the follicular phase, gastric emptying was slower (P<0.05), and blood glucose (P<0.01), plasma GLP-1 and insulin (P<0.05), hunger (P<0.01) and energy intake (P<0.05) were lower compared with the luteal phase, with no differences for CCK or between the two follicular phase visits. There were inverse relationships between energy intake, blood glucose and plasma GLP-1 and insulin concentrations with the amount of glucose drink remaining in the stomach at t=90 min (r < -0.6, P<0.05). In conclusion, in healthy women (i) gastric emptying of glucose is slower, and glycemia, plasma GLP-1 and insulin, hunger and energy intake are less, during the follicular, when compared with the luteal, phase, (ii) energy intake, glycemia and plasma GLP-1 and insulin are related to gastric emptying, and (iii) these parameters are reproducible when assessed twice during the follicular phase.
