title: Relationship of obesity-related disturbances with LH/FSH ratio among post-menopausal women in the United States.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although luteinizing hormone to follicular stimulating hormone (LH/FSH) ratio is a controversial criterion for identifying a sub-group of infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and abnormalities at the level of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, an elevated LH/FSH ratio is frequently observed in PCOS cases. Obesity and insulin resistance are highly prevalent among PCOS women. To date, no studies have examined the associations of LH/FSH ratio with these co-morbid conditions outside the context of pre- and peri-menopausal PCOS women. The objective of this study is to evaluate whether the LH/FSH ratio is associated with obesity, insulin resistance, metabolic disturbances and chronic inflammation among post-menopausal U.S. women, 35-60 years of age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study of 693 women who participated in the 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Body mass index, waist circumference, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, fasting glucose, metabolic syndrome, Homeostasis Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance and C-reactive protein (CRP).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age- and hysterectomy-adjusted regression models suggest that CRP level is positively associated with LH/FSH ratio and LH/FSH>1, high glucose level and LH/FSH>2 are inversely related and HDL<50mg/dL is positively associated with both LH/FSH>1 and LH/FSH>2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a nationally representative sample of post-menopausal women, markers of chronic inflammation and dyslipidemia which are characteristics of PCOS-associated morbidities were also significantly associated with LH/FSH ratio, meriting further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Public Health, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Post Office Box 1980, Norfolk, VA 23501-1980, USA. baydouha@evms.edu
authors.forename: Hind A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Beydoun
authors.forename: May A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Beydoun
authors.forename: Natasha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wiggins
authors.forename: Laurel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stadtmauer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
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