title: Hormonal changes in menopause and orexin-a action.
abstract: Menopause is a period of significant physiological changes that may be associated with increased body weight and obesity-related diseases. Many researches were conducted to assess the contribution of factors such as estrogen depletion, REE decline, and aging to weight gain. An increase in orexin-A plasma levels, paralleling lower estrogen levels, was found during menopause. Orexins are hypothalamic neuropeptides recently discovered, involved in the regulation of feeding behaviour, sleep-wakefulness rhythm, and neuroendocrine homeostasis. Orexins might offer the missing link between postmenopausal hypoestrogenism and other manifestations of the menopausal syndrome, including appetite and weight changes and increase in cardiovascular risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology and Clinical Dietetic Service, Second University of Naples, Via Costantinopoli 16, I-80138 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Messina
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Viggiano
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Luca
authors.forename: Antonietta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Messina
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chieffi
authors.forename: Marcellino
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monda