Influence of lactation on oral glucose tolerance in the puerperium

Abstract

Abstract. The influence of endogenous hyperprolactinaemia on oral glucose tolerance in normal women post-partum was studied. An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed 8 weeks after delivery in 23 women, 13 of whom were breastfeeding. The lactating women had significantly higher plasma prolactin values before and during the OGTT than the non-lactating women (P < 0.005). Fasting values of serum FSH, LH, progesterone and plasma glucagon were similar in the two groups. The non-lactating women had higher fasting concentrations of serum oestradiol (P < 0.0005), plasma glucose (P < 0.05) and insulin (P < 0.05) than the lactating women. After oral glucose no differences were found between lactating and non-lactating women in changes in plasma glucose, insulin and glucagon concentrations. It is concluded that lactating women 8 weeks post-partum do not have an impaired OGTT compared to non-lactating women despite elevated plasma prolactin levels.