title: Association of circulating adiponectin with testosterone in women during the menopausal transition.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined (1) the change in circulating adiponectin in women during the menopausal transition and (2) the associations of adiponectin levels with estrogen, androgen and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in women during the menopausal transition.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional study in 235 healthy women and divided them into 7 stages by menstrual regularity and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) level. Serum levels of adiponectin, estradiol, total testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S) and SHBG were measured. Levels of free and bioavailable testosterone were calculated by using total testosterone, albumin and SHBG.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum adiponectin levels showed a U-curve, levels being low in early and late menopausal transition and gradually becoming higher after menopause. Adiponectin levels were negatively correlated with levels of free testosterone, bioavailable testosterone and DHEA-S and were positively correlated with SHBG in postmenopausal women for whom more than 1 year had passed since menopause. Adiponectin level was not correlated with estradiol level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Circulating adiponectin level shows a U-curve during the menopausal transition and adiponectin level is associated with levels of free and bioavailable testosterone and DHEA-S in postmenopause.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, 3-18-15 Kuramoto, Tokushima, Japan. sumika87@clin.med.tokushima-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Sumika
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsui
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yasui
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tani
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Kotaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kunimi
authors.forename: Hirokazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uemura
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuwahara
authors.forename: Toshiya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuzaki
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Irahara
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D001682:Biological Availability; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D004967:Estrogens; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone