Sex hormones in postmenopausal women receiving low-dose hormone therapy: the effect of BMI

Obesity (Silver Spring). 2011 May;19(5):988-93. doi: 10.1038/oby.2010.232. Epub 2010 Oct 14.

Abstract

The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of BMI on the change in circulating sex hormone in postmenopausal women during 6 months of oral continuous combined low-dose hormone therapy (HT). Fifty postmenopausal women were allocated to receive daily one tablet containing combination of 17β-estradiol (1 mg)/norethindrone acetate (0.5 mg) for 6 months. Serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol, total testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), free androgen index (FAI), free estrogen index (FEI), Δ4-androstendione (Δ4A), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate were assessed at baseline and at the end of 6 months. Mean absolute values and percent changes from baseline were compared between lean and overweight women. Mean FSH decreased and mean 17β-estradiol increased significantly in both groups (FSH lean: 82.3 ± 26.7 decreased to 45.0 ± 17.0 mIU/ml, P = 0.0001; FSH overweight: 85.5 ± 22.1 decreased to 52.3 ± 23.8 mIU/ml, P = 0.003; P between groups = 0.661; E2 lean: 23.24 ± 12.55 increased to 53.62 ± 28.29 pg/ml, P = 0.006; E2 overweight: 24.17 ± 10.88 increased to 68.36 ± 53.99 pg/ml, P = 0.0001; P between groups = 0.619). Lean individuals had statistically significant higher increments of FAI and specifically FEI compared to overweight (FEI lean; 0.14 ± 0.09 increased to 0.29 ± 0.14, P = 0.009; overweight 0.23 ± 0.18 increased to 0.52 ± 0.40, P = 0.126; P between groups = 0.034). Although BMI does not affect total 17β-estradiol changes, free sex steroid concentrations increase more steeply in lean compared to overweight women receiving oral low-dose HT.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue / drug effects
  • Adipose Tissue / metabolism*
  • Androgens / blood
  • Androstenedione / blood
  • Body Mass Index*
  • Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / blood
  • Estradiol / blood
  • Estrogen Replacement Therapy*
  • Estrogens / blood
  • Female
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone / blood
  • Gonadal Steroid Hormones / blood*
  • Greece
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Postmenopause / drug effects
  • Postmenopause / metabolism*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / metabolism
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Testosterone / blood

Substances

  • Androgens
  • Estrogens
  • Gonadal Steroid Hormones
  • Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin
  • Testosterone
  • Androstenedione
  • Estradiol
  • Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone