Insulin resistance and secretion indexes in healthy Italian children and adolescents: a multicentre study

BACKGROUND AND AIM: To establish normal values of insulin resistance, secretion and sensitivity using respectively HOMA-IR, HOMA-beta% and QUICKI indexes in healthy Italian children and adolescents, based on fasting samples. METHODS: We determined HOMA-IR, HOMA-beta% and QUICKI at baseline in 142 healthy subjects from Pediatric Centres, aged 2.7 to 19 years (10.6 +/- 3.8, Mean +/- SD), with different Tanner's pubertal Stages (TS). None had hypo/hyperglycemia (fasting plasma glucose ranging from 3.6 to 5.6 mmol/l), obesity (BMI (kg/m2) 17.9 +/- 2.4, M +/- SD), or family history for diabetes mellitus. RESULTS: The HOMA-IR index slightly increases with Tanner's stage. As regards HOMA-beta% and QUICKI, a weak variation throughout puberty was observed. No significant correlation was observed between HOMA-IR, HOM A-beta%, QUICKI and BMI-SDS or chronologic age. CONCLUSIONS: Normal values of HOMA-IR, HOMA-beta% and QUICKI are useful tools in the clinical and epidemiological practice for baseline screening and follow-up of subjects at risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus.