Abstract
ObjectivesTo investigate the relationship between endogenous androgens and body fat distribution in early and late postmenopausal women.Materials and MethodsWe enrolled postmenopausal women consisting of an early group (≤5 years since menopause, n = 105) and a late group (≥10 years since menopause, n = 107). Each group was subdivided into normal weight (BMI <24 kg/m2) group, overweight and obese (BMI ≥24 kg/m2) group. Fasting total testosterone (T), dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S) and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels were measured. Body fat distribution was evaluated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).ResultsLate postmenopausal women had a higher proportion of body fat than early postmenopausal women. The body fat of the overweight and obese women had a greater tendency to accumulate in the abdomen compared with the normal weight women both in early and late postmenopausal groups. The overweight and obese women had a higher free testosterone (FT) than the normal weight women in early postmenopausal women (P<0.05). In late postmenopausal women, the overweight and obese women had higher DHEA-S levels than normal weight women (P<0.05). No direct relationship was observed between the T levels and body fat distribution both in early and late postmenopausal groups (P>0.05).The FT in early postmenopausal women and the DHEA-S levels in late postmenopausal women correlated positively with the trunk/leg fat ratio (T/L) and the proportion of android fat whereas correlated negatively with the proportion of gynoid fat in the partial correlation and multiple linear regression analyses (all P<0.05).ConclusionsSerum T levels do not correlate directly with body fat distribution, the FT in early postmenopausal women and DHEA-S levels in late postmenopausal women correlate positively with abdominal fat accumulation.
Highlights
Previous researchers have demonstrated that postmenopausal women tend to gain weight and that menopause is associated with a preferential increase in intra-abdominal fat [1,2,3]
No direct relationship was observed between the T levels and body fat distribution both in early and late postmenopausal groups (P.0.05).The free testosterone (FT) in early postmenopausal women and the DHEA-S levels in late postmenopausal women correlated positively with the trunk/leg fat ratio (T/L) and the proportion of android fat whereas correlated negatively with the proportion of gynoid fat in the partial correlation and multiple linear regression analyses
Body fat may be redistributed and tends to accumulate more in the upper body, especially the abdomen, after menopause [4,5].It is well known that abdominal obesity significantly increases the risk of developing metabolic syndrome (MS),diabetes and coronary heart disease(CHD) [6,7],which are detrimental to the health of elderly women
Summary
Previous researchers have demonstrated that postmenopausal women tend to gain weight and that menopause is associated with a preferential increase in intra-abdominal fat [1,2,3]. Body fat may be redistributed and tends to accumulate more in the upper body, especially the abdomen, after menopause [4,5].It is well known that abdominal obesity significantly increases the risk of developing metabolic syndrome (MS),diabetes and coronary heart disease(CHD) [6,7],which are detrimental to the health of elderly women. Both observational and clinical trials suggest that estrogen deficiency is associated with increased adiposity and that a low dose of estrogen therapy before 60 years could decrease abdominal fat accumulation [8,9]. It is unclear whether DHEA-S is associated with body fat distribution
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