Anthropometric, hormonal and biochemical differences in lean and obese women before and after menopause

Abstract

The menopausal status is associated with an increased risk of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Since the post-menopausal modifications have not been clearly investigated in obese women, we evaluated the influences of menopausal status on anthropometric, hormonal and biochemical characteristics in selected groups of normal-weight and obese women. We studied 92 female outpatients: 24 normal-weight pre-menopausal (Pre-NW) [body mass index (BMI) 23.6 +/- 0.48, age 44.8 +/- 0.68], 24 normal-weight post-menopausal (Post-NW) (BMI 23.7 +/- 0.44, age 55.5 +/- 0.69), 24 obese pre-menopausal (pre-OB) (BMI 32.3 +/- 0.45, age 44.6 +/- 0.75), 20 obese post-menopausal women (Post-OB) (BMI 32.9 +/- 0.57, age 55.2 +/- 0.82). All the subjects were non smokers and free from hypertension, diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Anthropometric parameters, body composition, 17 beta-estradiol, LH, FSH, androstenedione, SHBG, testosterone and leptin were determined. Free androgen index (FAI) and insulin resistance index (HOMA) were calculated. In comparison with Pre-OB, Post-OB had higher values of waist circumferences (p < 0.02), while Post-NW showed no difference. Total and LDL-cholesterol were high in Post-NW women, whereas in the obese subjects they were already elevated in the premenopausal period. SHBG levels declined and FAI increased in Post-OB in comparison with Pre-OB. SHBG levels showed an inverse correlation with BMI, waist and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), while FAI positively correlated with waist values. Serum leptin levels were higher in Post-OB than in Pre-OB, whereas they were similar in normal-weight women. The rise of leptin levels may be related to the greater abdominal fat deposition. In addition, menopausal status of uncomplicated obese women is associated with a greater abdominal fat deposition and with higher values of free androgen index, which may be considered as factors of cardiovascular risk.

Birthweight and Body Size throughout Life in Relation to Sex Hormones and Prolactin Concentrations in Premenopausal Women

“…We and numerous previous investigators (28,(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40)42) observed a strong inverse association between SHBG and BMI in premenopausal women. Consistent with this finding, we also observed that free testosterone levels were higher among overweight and obese women compared with normal weight women.…”

“…Interestingly, we did not observe a similar association with free estradiol, likely due to the lower total estradiol levels in women with high BMI. Although several studies have examined the relationship between current BMI and premenopausal estrogens and androgens, the results are relatively inconsistent (28,(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40)42). Possible reasons for this may be the small sample sizes (n < 110; refs.…”

“…However, few studies have looked at these factors in relation to mid-to late-premenopausal hormone levels. Some studies have examined the associations between childhood (24)(25)(26)(27) and adult (28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41) body mass index (BMI) with premenopausal sex hormones, but the results have been inconsistent. This may be due to the small sample size of many studies and because blood samples were collected without regard to timing in the menstrual cycle in many studies, and although some studies accounted for this in the statistical analyses (30,40), others did not (33,35,36,42).…”

Prevalence of Obesity among Urban and Rural Dwellers in Nigeria

“…The Age was strongly associated with obesity in women; prevalence of obesity in women peaked at 53 and above as previously reported by [10]. This association between obesity and age in women can be explained, in part, by parity and post menopausal status [11]. The reduced risk of obesity in younger women may reflect a possible shift in the burden of obesity in women, from the positive association observed in most studies from subSaharan Africa [12,13] to the inverse association reported from developed countries.…”

MECHANISMS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY: Endogenous sex steroids and cardio- and cerebro-vascular disease in the postmenopausal period

“…This agrees with the previous work of Tufano et al in 44 obese women, half of whom were in the postmenopausal period. FAI was positively related to waist circumference and was significantly higher in menopausal women compared with the premenopausal group (88). In an earlier case-control study of Hauner et al (89) in women undergoing coronary angiography, testosterone was positively associated with the waist:hip ratio, an index of central adiposity, as well as with insulin levels.…”