Lipid and lipoprotein changes observed after treatment could be due to the estrogen dominance of the treatment. The plasma concentration of triglycerides and total cholesterol during treatment does not change appreciably and the LDL-C/HDL-C ratio improved.
This large cross-sectional study suggests that postmenopausal women are at higher risk of type 2 diabetes after allowance for the effect of age. Other main determinants of risk of type 2 diabetes in women around menopause were low socioeconomic status and being overweight. Diabetes was found less frequently in those taking hormone replacement therapy.
This study explores the clinical and endocrine implications of weight loss. The frequency of menstrual abnormalities was found to be greatly influenced by reduction in body weight. The occurrence of amenorrhea appeared to be proportional to the rate of weight loss, while regular cycles and luteal phase deficiency were inversely correlated to weight loss. Endocrine variations were noted. Significant decreases in luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone levels occurred only in amenorrheic patients with a weight loss higher than 20%. The estradiol level decreased in proportion to the reduction in body weight. Cortisolemia increased in all patients, with higher values apparent in amenorrheic women presenting with a weight loss higher than 20%. The prolactin values were normal except in amenorrheic patients who had lower levels. A reduction of insulin levels occurred in all groups, with a significant difference found only in amenorrheic women in Group C (weight loss higher than 20%). The data suggest that weight loss in young women causes alterations in the menstrual cycle mainly through two mechanisms involving both the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and ovarian steroidogenesis together with estrogen catabolism.
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