LH/FSH Ratio Is Associated With Visceral Adipose Dysfunction in Chinese Women Older Than 55.

Li Zhao,Chunfang Zhu,Ningjian Wang,Jing Cheng,Fangzhen Xia,Yi Chen,Chi Chen,Yingli Lu

doi:10.3389/fendo.2018.00419

Abstract

No study examined the association of luteinizing hormone to follicular stimulating hormone (LH/FSH) ratio with both visceral obesity outside the context of polycystic ovary syndrome. Thus, we hypothesized that the LH/FSH ratio was associated with visceral adipose accumulation and dysfunction among Chinese women older than 55. From 2014 to 2015, a total of 2,525 women aged 55–89 years were identified from a cross-sectional survey on the prevalence of metabolic diseases and risk factors in East China. Anthropometric indices, biochemical parameters, sex hormones and clinical characteristics were measured. Visceral adipose accumulation and function were identified by visceral adiposity index (VAI), Chinese visceral adiposity index (CVAI) and lipid accumulation product (LAP). Linear regression and logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore the association. A total of 1,462 (57.9%) participants had visceral obesity. In the linear regression, after full adjustment for demographic variables, metabolic factors, total testosterone (T), and estradiol (E2), LH/FSH ratio was positively associated with all indices estimating visceral obesity [B (95% CI): Log VAI 0.060 (0.030–0.090), Log CVAI 0.045 (0.029–0.061), Log LAP 0.103 (0.063–0.142), all P < 0.001]. Logistic regression analyses showed that the risk of visceral obesity increased with increasing LH/FSH ratio after controlling for age and smoking [OR (95% CI): 1.99 (1.52, 2.59), P < 0.001]. After further controlling for metabolic factors, the association was attenuated but remained significant [OR (95% CI): 1.89 (1.42, 2.53), P < 0.001]. The OR of visceral obesity in the fully adjusted model was 1.83 (95% CI 1.37, 2.45) (P < 0.001). Thus, high LH/FSH ratio was significantly associated with visceral adipose over-accumulation and dysfunction in women over 55 years old. This ratio may be an early marker for metabolic disorders in Chinese women older than 55, which warrants further investigation.

Highlights

Visceral obesity reflects adipose tissue storage dysfunction and triglyceride accumulation in ectopic sites including skeletal muscle, liver and pancreatic β cells [1]
Using data from the study, we aimed to explore the association of the LH/Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) ratio with visceral obesity, Abbreviations: WC, waist circumference; Body mass index (BMI), body mass index; waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waistto-hip ratio; SBP, systolic blood pressure; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; FPG, fasting plasma glucose; Fasting insulin (FINS), fasting insulin; HOMA-IR, insulin resistance index; TG, triglycerides; TC, total cholesterol; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; HDL, high-density lipoprotein; VAI, visceral adiposity index; CVAI, Chinese visceral adiposity index; LAP, lipid accumulation product; T, testosterone; E2, estradiol; LH, luteinizing hormone; FSH, follicle-stimulating hormone
We found that a higher luteinizing hormone to follicular stimulating hormone (LH/FSH) ratio was significantly associated with visceral adipose over-accumulation and dysfunction defined by LAP, VAI and CVAI and with a higher risk of visceral obesity in Chinese women over 55 years old who had a high probability of being postmenopausal

Summary

Introduction

Visceral obesity reflects adipose tissue storage dysfunction and triglyceride accumulation in ectopic sites including skeletal muscle, liver and pancreatic β cells [1]. LH/FSH Ratio and Visceral Adipose Dysfunction to estimate visceral obesity; they could neither distinguish between visceral and subcutaneous fat [5] nor precisely predict visceral adipose dysfunction. The visceral adiposity index (VAI) and the lipid accumulation product (LAP) were introduced [6]. VAI is a new index for the assessment of adipose distribution and function that has shown promising capability to be a marker of visceral fat dysfunction [7]. LAP can reflect the combined anatomic and physiologic changes associated with lipid over-accumulation in adults [8]. A Chinese visceral adiposity index (CVAI) is established for the evaluation of visceral fat dysfunction in Chinese populations, as the body fat distribution among various ethnicities is different and VAI has mainly been reported in Caucasians [9]

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