title: Effect of hormone replacement therapy and tibolone on serum leptin levels in postmenopausal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT), continuous combined hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and tibolone on serum leptin levels in healthy postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-four healthy postmenopausal women aged 43-63 years were studied prospectively. Hysterectomized women (n = 16) received conjugated equine estrogens (CEE) 0.625 mg. Women with an intact uterus were randomly allocated either to CEE+medroxyprogesterone acetate (CEE/MPA) 5 mg or tibolone 2.5 mg. Serum leptin levels were assessed at baseline and after 6 months of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The three groups did not differ with respect to age, body mass index (BMI) or baseline serum leptin levels. Overweight women (BMI > 25 kg/m2) had higher baseline leptin levels (27.0 +/- 11.4 ng/ml) compared to their lean counterparts (BMI < or = 25 kg/m2; leptin: 16.5 +/- 8.1 ng/ml, P = 0.0001). Neither CEE nor CEE/MPA had any effect on serum leptin levels at the end of 6 months either in overweight or in lean women (overweight: CEE baseline 34.4 +/- 13.3 ng/ml, 6 months 36.9 +/- 15.8, P = 0.89, CEE/MPA baseline 22.4 +/- 9.8 ng/ml, 6 months 26.8 +/- 8.7 ng/ml, P = 0.1; lean: CEE baseline 12.6 +/- 4.4 ng/ml, 6 months 13.2 +/- 5.8 ng/ml, P = 0.36, CEE/MPA baseline 17.2 +/- 10.6 ng/ml, 6 months 18.8 +/- 8.8 ng/ml, P = 0.31). Similarly serum leptin remained unchanged at the end of the study in both lean and overweight women on tibolone (overweight: baseline 22.9 +/- 8.1 ng/ml, 6 months 18.5 +/- 12 ng/ml, P = 0.37; lean: baseline 13.2 +/- 5.6 ng/ml, 6 months 17.3 +/- 8.4 ng/ml).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BMI is a strong determinant of serum leptin levels in healthy postmenopausal women. Neither ERT/HRT nor tibolone exert any effect on serum leptin after 6 months in lean or overweight postmenopausal women. Further studies are required to verify the exact role of estrogen and tibolone on leptin production and function in postmenopausal women.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aretaieion Hospital, University of Athens, 3 Neofytou Douka Street, GR-10674, Greece.
authors.forename: Irene V
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Lambrinoudaki
authors.forename: George E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Christodoulakos
authors.forename: Constantinos P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Panoulis
authors.forename: Demetrius A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Rizos
authors.forename: Spyros G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Dendrinos
authors.forename: Theodor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liakakos
authors.forename: Areti D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Augoulea
authors.forename: George C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Creatsas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D020847:Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009652:Norpregnenes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017698:Postmenopause; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D020847:Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP); D020738:Leptin; D009652:Norpregnenes; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate; C027385:tibolone