Fiber intakes and anthropometric indicators are predictors of hormones, triglycerides and cholesterol levels in the Women's Health Trial: Feasibility Study in Minority Populations

Abstract

The unhealthy eating patterns and obesity among women in the U.S. entail changes in biomarkers such as insulin, lipids, lipoproteins and sex hormones that are risk factors for breast cancer and cardiovascular diseases. This paper modeled the inter-relationships between dietary intakes, insulin, estradiol, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), LDL and HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides using data at baseline and 12 months on 379 and 615 post-menopausal women in the Control and Intervention groups, respectively, of the Women's Health Trial: Feasibility Study in Minority Populations. The main findings were that there were significant differences between Control and Intervention groups in the changes from baseline to 12 months in LDL and HDL cholesterol and SHBG levels. Second, using a random effects modeling framework, the ratio of fiber to energy intake was significantly associated (P<0.05) with lower insulin and triglycerides levels and with higher HDL cholesterol in the Intervention group. Third, the subjects’ waist to hip ratio and BMI were significantly associated with insulin, SHBG, LDL and HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides levels. Lastly, insulin levels were significantly negatively associated with SHBG and HDL cholesterol, and positively associated with LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and estradiol levels. Overall, the results showed that weight loss and increased intake of dietary fiber are likely to be beneficial for the levels of lipids, cholesterol and hormones.