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Endocrine Abstracts (2019) 67 O26 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.67.O26

1Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aretaieio Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece; 2Hormonal and Biochemical Laboratory, Aretaieio Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.


Objective: Recent evidence reports a controversial extra-gonadal role of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). Conflicting data support that the association between FSH and obesity might be maintained by a direct or even indirect effect to the adipose tissue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations between FSH concentrations and various obesity indices in women after menopause.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 420 postmenopausal women (age 55.6±6.5 years, 8.01±6.7 years since menopause) with low insulin resistance (inclusion criteria: years since menopause>1, FSH>25 IU/ml, HOMA-IR<5). We recorded anthropometric parameters. Indices of regional adiposity were sonographically assessed, including subcutaneous fat and preperitoneal fat. Blood samples were obtained for biochemical and hormonal evaluation.

Results: Mean values of BMI were 25.8±4.0 kg/m2. Waist circumference and BMI presented a stepwise decrease with increasing quartiles of FSH (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; 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; ANOVA p-value for linear trend <0.001, both cases). Similarly, subcutaneous and preperitoneal fat measures decreased linearly with increasing quartiles of FSH (ANOVA p-value for linear trend <0.001). Stepwise linear regression analysis showed that preperitoneal fat is inversely associated with FSH, independently of circulating estrogen (b coefficient=−0.130, P-value=0.029) and traditional cardiovascular risk factors. The association between FSH and subcutaneous fat was not evident following adjustment for circulating estrogen, implying a possible mediation effect of the latter on this association.

Conclusions: FSH is inversely associated with indices of total and regional adiposity in women after menopause. The exact mechanism of this interaction remains to be elucidated in future studies.

Volume 67

7th ESE Young Endocrinologists and Scientists (EYES) Meeting

European Society of Endocrinology 

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