Racial differences in sex hormone levels in women approaching the transition to menopause.
OBJECTIVE
Evaluate racial differences in reproducibility of hormone levels over time (estradiol, DHEAS, FSH, and testosterone) while adjusting for covariates previously identified as relevant in the study population.


METHODS
Longitudinal cohort study.


METHODS
Healthy, late-reproductive-age women in a community-based sample.


METHODS
African American and Caucasian women identified by random digit dialing.


METHODS
Hormone levels measured in the early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle four times over 9 months. A multivariate, linear mixed model estimated effects on hormone levels of race, age at enrollment, age at menarche, number of pregnancies, current smoking, alcohol consumption, body mass index (BMI), waist/hip ratio (WHR), and menstrual cycle length.


METHODS
Follicular plasma levels of estradiol, FSH, DHEAS, and testosterone.


RESULTS
African American but not Caucasian women had significantly lower levels of estradiol and DHEAS with increasing age. African American but not Caucasian women had significantly decreased levels of estradiol and significantly increased levels of DHEAS with increasing BMI. No racial differences in reproducibility of hormone measures were found.


CONCLUSIONS
There are racial differences in associations of hormone levels with age and BMI in late reproductive age women. Further study is needed to replicate these findings and to determine the relationships of these hormonal associations with menopausal symptoms.
Manson
J M
JM
University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine, Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Sammel
M D
MD
Freeman
E W
EW
Grisso
J A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D044383:Black People; D001824:Body Constitution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008572:Menarche; D008593:Menopause / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D012907:Smoking; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D044465:White People; D001741:Black or African American
D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone