Adipokine Concentrations in Nonobese Women: A Study of Reproductive Aging, Body Mass Index, and Menstrual Cycle Effects

Abstract

Objective To explore the influence of reproductive aging, body mass index (BMI) and the menstrual cycle on adiponectin (AD) and leptin concentrations. Design Cross-sectional comparison in age- and BMI-matched non-obese volunteers with regular cycles (CO, n = 19) or in early menopause (EPM, n = 19), aged 40–52 years, and a young cycling group (CY, n = 21), aged 20–30 years. Measures: sex steroids, fasting AD, leptin, insulin, glucose, adiponectin/leptin (A/L) ratio and HOMA-IR. In ovulatory women, AD, estradiol and progesterone were assessed weekly across the same menstrual cycle. Results Insulin, glucose, HOMA-IR, A/L ratio and leptin values were similar across the three study groups. AD differed, with the highest concentrations in the EPM group (CY: 13.0 ± 0.9 µg/ml vs. CO: 14.0 ± 1.1 µg/ml vs. EPM: 17.7 ± 1.5 µg/ml; p = .05). Values among cycling women were similar. When the cycling groups were combined into a premenopausal (PRE) group and compared to EPM women by BMI (> or ≤ 25 kg/m2), leptin concentrations were higher and A/L ratios lower in PRE and EPM overweight subgroups vs. normal-weight subgroups. AD was lower in overweight, cycling women and higher in the normal-weight EPM subgroup compared to normal-weight PRE women. In cycling women, AD did not vary across the menstrual cycle. Conclusion Non-obese, midlife women experience minimal adverse effects from reproductive aging on insulin sensitivity and adipokine secretion. The menstrual cycle is not a key mediator of AD. Early menopause has differential, BMI-dependent effects on adipokine secretion.

The Independent Association Between 25‐Hydroxyvitamin D and Adiponectin and Its Relation With BMI in Two Large Cohorts: The NHS and the HPFS

“…The mean 25(OH)D level was 24.4 ± 9.4 ng/ml in women from NHS and 28.7 ± 9.9 ng/ml in men from HPFS, consistent with vitamin D insufficiency in both cohorts by current clinical convention (3). As expected, women had higher adiponectin concentrations than men (17.9 ± 7.7 vs. 10.0 ± 8.1 µg/ ml) (11), and postmenopausal women had higher adiponectin levels than premenopausal women (18.3 ± 7.7 vs. 15.7 ± 7.0 µg/ ml) (18). Both study populations exhibited expected trends in demographic, physical, and dietary characteristics when stratified by BMI categories (Tables 1 and 2).…”

“…Prudent dietary pattern scores were derived from semi‐quantitative food frequency questionnaires as previously described (23). In women from NHS, we also adjusted for menopausal status (18). Dietary calcium and potassium intake included that from food sources as well as supplements.…”

“…Furthermore, it has been shown that the magnitude of the positive association between 25(OH)D and adiponectin may strengthen with higher BMI (10). These prior findings were reported in relatively small cross‐sectional studies that did not account for numerous potential confounders, as adiponectin concentrations are known to be influenced by age (11), gender (11), race (12), BMI (5,11), diabetes and hypertension status (5,11,13), antihypertensive drug use (14), dietary electrolyte intake (14), dietary patterns (15), physical activity (16), alcohol intake (17), and menopausal status (18).…”

Leptin and adiponectin in the female life course

“…In addition, serum adiponectin levels were significantly decreased, whereas serum leptin levels were increased in obese postmenopausal women compared to normoweight women (57). Adiponectin concentration appears to be higher in normoweight than in overweight women in early postmenopause (52). Taken together, these data support the idea of an inhibitory role for both estrogen and body fat composition in the secretion of this adipokine.…”

“…In addition, no significant changes in serum adiponectin concentrations were reported by Kleiblova et al (51) in relation to sex hormones or to the degree of insulin sensitivity during the menstrual cycle. In this regard, Rouen et al (52) observed no variation in adiponectin secretion during the menstrual cycle. These findings suggest that adiponectin is probably not related to reproductive functions in adult women.…”