GLP-2 and leptin are associated with hyperinsulinemia in non-obese female migraineurs

OBJECTIVE: Impaired insulin metabolism has been implicated in migraine. However, to date only some putative effects, especially regarding the involvement of adipocytokines and glucagon-like peptides (GLPs), have been described. The aim of the present study was to investigate adipocytokines and GLPs in non-obese female migraineurs. METHODS: Various parameters of the insulin metabolism and body measurements were determined in 84 non-obese female subjects. RESULTS: We found highly significantly increased insulin levels with an odds ratio of 10.62 for migraine. Leptin and GLP-2 levels were also increased and correlated with insulin. Logistic regression analysis of leptin and GLP-2 revealed odds ratios of 3.79 and 4.26 for migraine, respectively, when comparing the lowest with the highest quartile of the test variable in the complete study cohort. DISCUSSION: We show that non-obese female migraineurs suffer from hyperinsulinemia, which is associated with elevated leptin and GLP-2 levels. Increased leptin and GLP-2 are risk factors for migraine. Our data suggest that migraine is associated with a higher risk for insulin resistance and its clinical consequences.