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Endocrine Abstracts (2019) 65 P222 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.65.P222

SFEBES2019 POSTER PRESENTATIONS Metabolism and Obesity (104 abstracts)

FSH levels are adversely associated with markers of regional adiposity in postmenopausal women

Eleni Armeni 1 , Areti Augoulea 1 , Demetrios Rizos 2 , George Kaparos 2 , Konstantinos Panoulis 1 & Irene Lambrinoudaki 1


12nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece; 2Hormonal and Biochemical Laboratory, National and Kapodistrian Univeristy of Athens, Aretaieio Hospital, Athens, Greece


Background: A growing body of evidence reports implications of a direct extra-gonadal effect of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), involving the development of obesity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations between traditional and local obesity indices and FSH concentrations in women after menopause.

Methods: We evaluated a total of 420 postmenopausal women in a cross-sectional design (age 55.6±6.5 years, BMI were 25.8±4.0 kg/m2, 8.01±6.7 years since menopause) with low insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, HOMA-IR<5) We recorded anthropometric parameters and evaluated the body mass index (BMI). Indices of regional adiposity were sonographically assessed and included preperitoneal fat and subcutaneous fat). Fasting blood samples were obtained for biochemical and hormonal evaluation.

Results: Values of BMI and waist circumference exhibited an inverse association with increasing quartiles of FSH (BMI, FSH Q1 vs. Q2 vs. Q3 vs. Q4: 27.6±5.2 vs. 26±4.8 vs. 25.8±7.1 vs. 23.9±2.9; Waist, FSH Q1 vs. Q2 vs. Q3 vs. Q4: 93.2±2.4 vs. 87.6±4.4 vs. 85.4±1.8 vs. 80.89±2.8; ANOVA P-value for linear trend <0.001, both cases). Similarly, values of subcutaneous and preperitoneal fat exhibited a linear decrease with increasing quartiles of FSH (ANOVA P-value for linear trend <0.001). Multivariable stepwise linear regression analysis showed that preperitoneal fat measures were inversely associated with FSH levels (b coefficient= −0.130, P value=0.029), independently of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and circulating estrogen. The association between subcutaneous fat measures and FSH was lost following adjustment for circulating estrogen, implying a possible mediation effect of estrogen on this association.

Conclusions: Serum levels of FSH are inversely associated with markers of regional and total adiposity in postmenopausal women. The exact mechanism of this interaction remains to be elucidated in future studies.

Volume 65

Society for Endocrinology BES 2019

Brighton, United Kingdom
11 Nov 2019 - 13 Nov 2019

Society for Endocrinology 

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