Hormone variations associated with quantitative fat measures in the menopausal transition.
OBJECTIVE
Reproductive hormone levels are associated with body size, and the association between estradiol and body size varies over the menopausal transition. This study aims to delineate these relationships using quantitative measures of visceral and subcutaneous fat.


METHODS
Early follicular hormones (follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol, luteinizing hormone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, testosterone) and T-1 weighted abdominal MRI images were obtained in a cross-sectional assessment of 77 women in the Penn Ovarian Aging Study. Fat volume (cm(3)) was quantified using validated software (Amira) and divided into tertiles of visceral and subcutaneous fat volume for analysis. Multivariable linear regression models compared hormone values between tertiles adjusting for race, age, and menopausal status.


RESULTS
In adjusted models, estradiol was positively associated with visceral fat tertiles (geometric mean (GM) estradiol (pg/ml): Low 13.0, Mid 17.5, High 26.7, p = 0.006) while FSH was inversely associated with visceral fat tertiles (GM FSH (mIU/ml): Low 42.8, Mid 43.2, High 30.8, p = 0.03). The association of estradiol with visceral and subcutaneous fat tertiles varied by menopausal status (p < 0.001). In the early transition, estradiol was similar across tertiles of fat; postmenopause, estradiol was positively associated with visceral fat. Other hormones were not associated with fat measures.


CONCLUSIONS
Estradiol was associated with quantitative measures of visceral fat and varies by menopausal status. This finding suggests that visceral fat may be an important mediator in hormone changes over the menopausal transition.
Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, University of Pennsylvania.
S
S
Senapati
C R
CR
Gracia
E W
EW
Freeman
M D
MD
Sammel
H
H
Lin
C
C
Kim
R J
RJ
Schwab
G W
GW
Pien
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008593:Menopause / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone