Serum leptin levels, hormone levels, and hot flashes in midlife women.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the associations between serum leptin levels, sex steroid hormone levels, and hot flashes in normal weight and obese midlife women.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
University clinic.


METHODS
201 Caucasian, nonsmoking women aged 45 to 54 years with a body mass index of <25 kg/m2 or >or=30 kg/m2.


METHODS
Questionnaire, fasting blood samples.


METHODS
Serum leptin and sex steroid hormone levels.


RESULTS
Correlation and regression models were performed to examine associations between leptin levels, hormone levels, and hot flashes. Leptin levels were associated with BMI, with "ever experiencing hot flashes" (questionnaire), with hot flashes within the last 30 days, and with duration of hot flashes (>1 year, P=.03). Leptin was positively correlated with testosterone, free testosterone index, and free estrogen index and inversely associated with levels of sex hormone-binding globulin. In women with a body mass index>or=30 kg/m2, leptin levels no longer correlated with testosterone levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum leptin levels are associated with the occurrence and duration of hot flashes in midlife women; however, no correlation was found between leptin and serum estradiol.
Alexander
Carolyn
C
Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048, USA. carolyn.alexander@cshs.org
Cochran
Chrissy J
CJ
Gallicchio
Lisa
L
Miller
Susan R
SR
Flaws
Jodi A
JA
Zacur
Howard
H
D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008593:Menopause / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D020738:Leptin