title: Weight change and ovarian steroid profiles in young women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate possible short-term effects of voluntary weight loss on ovarian steroid profiles in young women, in light of better established long-term effects in older women.
  
  
  METHODS
  We tested for an association of voluntary weight change over the course of a menstrual cycle with salivary E(2) and P profiles in the same menstrual cycle.
  
  
  METHODS
  Students were recruited in a college residence hall, and they provided daily saliva samples to a researcher living nearby.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 65 women who participated were all college students and ranged in age between 18 and 23 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Weight was assessed in the first week of the menstrual cycle and first week of the following menstrual cycle. Estradiol and P were measured by radioimmunoassay in daily saliva samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We did not detect a suppressive effect of weight loss on the overall level of either hormone. However, we did find evidence for more distinct follicular and luteal E(2) peaks in women who gained weight. Peak luteal P also arrived about 2 days earlier in women who gained weight.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This finding adds to evidence that short-term response of ovarian function to weight loss in young women is less pronounced than long-term response in older women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, Harvard University Peabody Museum, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Judith Flynn
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: Matthew H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: McIntyre
authors.forename: Susan F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Lipson
authors.forename: Peter T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Ellison
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000378:metabolism; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000378:metabolism*; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D015430:Weight Gain; D015431:Weight Loss; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol