Weight loss increases follicle stimulating hormone in overweight postmenopausal women [corrected].

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To examine the impact of a weight loss intervention upon follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels in postmenopause.

METHODS:

Participants were postmenopausal, overweight, glucose-intolerant women not using exogenous estrogen (n = 382) in the Diabetes Prevention Program. Women were randomized to intensive lifestyle change (ILS) with the goals of weight reduction of at least 7% of initial weight and 150 min per week of moderate-intensity exercise, metformin 850 mg twice a day, or placebo administered twice a day.

RESULTS:

Randomization to ILS led to small increases in FSH between baseline and 1-year follow-up vs. placebo (2.3 IU/l vs. -0.81 IU/l, P < 0.01). Increases in FSH were correlated with decreases in weight (r = -0.165, P < 0.01) and estradiol (E2) (r = -0.464, P < 0.0001) after adjustment for age, race/ethnicity, and randomization arm. Changes in FSH were still significantly associated with changes in weight even after adjustment for E2 levels. Metformin users had reductions in weight but non-significant changes in FSH and E2 levels vs. placebo.

CONCLUSIONS:

Weight loss leads to small increases in FSH among overweight, postmenopausal women, potentially through pathways mediated by endogenous estrogen as well as other pathways.

• Authors: Catherine Kim, John F Randolph, Sherita H Golden, Fernand Labrie, Shengchun Kong, Bin Nan, Elizabeth Barrett-Connor
• Journal: Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) (Obesity (Silver Spring)) Vol. 23 Issue 1 Pg. 228-33 (Jan 2015) ISSN: 1930-739X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25294746 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)
• Copyright: © 2014 The Obesity Society.

Chemical References

• Estradiol
• Follicle Stimulating Hormone
• Metformin

Topics

• Aged
• Behavior Therapy
• Body Weight
• Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 (blood, prevention & control)
• Estradiol (blood)
• Female
• Follicle Stimulating Hormone (blood)
• Humans
• Life Style
• Metformin (therapeutic use)
• Middle Aged
• Overweight (blood, complications, therapy)
• Postmenopause (blood)
• Weight Loss (physiology)