Effect of short-term diet and exercise on hormone levels and menses in obese, infertile women.
OBJECTIVE
To improve serum metabolic and endocrine measures known to influence fecundity.


METHODS
Twelve infertile, obese women were enrolled in a 12-week program of diet and exercise. Subjects underwent baseline testing for estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), prolactin, fasting leptin, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), C-reactive protein (CRP) and total cholesterol. Glucose and insulin levels were measured fasting and 2 hours after a 75-g glucose load. Subjects attended three 1-hour exercise sessions per week and received instructions for a 1,200- to 1,300-kcal/day diet. Serum tests and body mass index (BMI) were remeasured after 12 weeks. Intermenstrual intervals were also recorded. At 24 weeks, subjects rated compliance with diet and exercise. Main outcome measures included change in serum variables, BMI and intermenstrual interval.


RESULTS
BMI, total cholesterol and E1/E2 ratio significantly decreased over 12 weeks (mean difference +/- SEM, 2.06 +/- 0.51 kg/m2, 25.91 +/- 4.33 mg/dL and 0.7 +/- 0.22, respectively). No significant differences were noted for all other measures. Ten of the 12 subjects (83%) showed menstrual improvement, with 8 becoming eumenorrheic.


CONCLUSIONS
Favorable metabolic and menstrual changes are possible in obese, infertile women after 12 weeks of diet and exercise.
Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Greenville Hospital System, Greenville, South Carolina 29605, USA. pmiller@ghs.org
Paul B
PB
Miller
David A
DA
Forstein
Sheena
S
Styles
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000097:blood*; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010865:Pilot Projects
D006728:Hormones