Journal article
Follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and adiposity trajectories in postmenopausal women
Climacteric : the journal of the International Menopause Society
12/22/2025
DOI: 10.1080/13697137.2025.2595986
PMID: 41428435
Abstract
Postmenopause is characterized by changes in reproductive hormones and body composition. Preclinical evidence suggests that follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) may increase adiposity, but epidemiologic research is limited. This study examined whether postmenopausal FSH and luteinizing hormone (LH) are related to adiposity changes.
The sample included 675 postmenopausal women enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) Buffalo Osteoporosis and Periodontal Disease (OsteoPerio) study with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry measures. Adiposity measures included visceral adipose tissue (VAT), subcutaneous adipose tissue, body mass index, and total and percent body fat. Group-based trajectory models and generalized estimating equation models estimated associations of baseline FSH and LH with 17-year adipose trajectories and longitudinal measures of adiposity, respectively.
The study estimated three trajectories for adiposity measures, corresponding to low, medium and high levels of adiposity over time. Higher baseline concentration of FSH and LH was associated with reductions in adiposity measures over time. An increase of 1 mIU/ml in FSH was associated with a 0.55 cm
reduction in VAT (95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.69, -0.40); and an increase of 1 mIU/ml in LH was associated with a 0.81 cm
reduction in VAT (95% CI: -1.09, -0.52).
Higher circulating FSH and LH were associated with lower adipose trajectories and lower adiposity levels in older postmenopausal women, counter to our hypothesis. Future research is needed on the relationship between gonadotropins and adiposity during the postmenopausal period.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and adiposity trajectories in postmenopausal women
- Creators
- Yihua Yue - University at Buffalo, State University of New YorkSarah M Lima - University at Buffalo, State University of New YorkKathleen M Hovey - University at Buffalo, State University of New YorkJennifer W Bea - University of ArizonaJean Wactawski-Wende - University at Buffalo, State University of New YorkJoAnn E Manson - Brigham and Women's HospitalDenise Roe - University of ArizonaJanet L Funk - University of ArizonaAndrew O Odegaard - University of California, IrvineShelby G Ziller - University of ArizonaRobert Wallace - University of IowaSu Yon Jung - University of Colorado Cancer CenterJane A Cauley - University of PittsburghHeather M Ochs-Balcom - University at Buffalo, State University of New York
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Climacteric : the journal of the International Menopause Society
- DOI
- 10.1080/13697137.2025.2595986
- PMID
- 41428435
- NLM abbreviation
- Climacteric
- ISSN
- 1473-0804
- eISSN
- 1473-0804
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- Grant note
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: 75N92021D00001 National Cancer Institute: 5R01CA258436 New York State Department of Health: C34926GG National Institutes of Health: R01 DE13505
The follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) study is supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH, to J. W. Bea and H. M. Ochs-Balcom) [5R01CA258436-03]; Breast Cancer Research and Education Fund through New York State Department of Health (to H.M. Ochs-Balcom) [Contract No. C34926GG]. The Women's Health Initiative (WHI) Buffalo Osteoporosis and Periodontal Disease (OsteoPerio) study was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute [NHLBI-CSB-WH-2016-01-CM], [DOD No. OS950077], [NIH R01 DE13505], [R01DE024523]. The WHI program is funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute [contract No. HHSN268201600018C], [contract No. HHSN268201600001C], [contract No. HHSN268201600002C], [contract No. HHSN268201600003C], [contract No. HHSN268201600004C], [contract No. 75N92021D00001], [contract No. 75N92021D00002], [contract No. 75N92021D00003], [contract No. 75N92021D00004], [contract No. 75N92021D00005].
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 12/22/2025
- Academic Unit
- Epidemiology; Injury Prevention Research Center
- Record Identifier
- 9985093888402771
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