[Changes in body weight and the distribution of adipose tissue in hysterectomized postmenopausal patients on estrogen...

The purpose was to look how the weight and body fat distribution is modified after estrogen replacement therapy (ERT). 52 patients older 40 years age, hysterectomized and with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy were studied. They were divided in two groups: I) received ERT with conjugated equine estrogens 0.625 mg daily (n = 35) and II) with no ERT (n = 27) (control). Every three months corporal weight, body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio was measured for a 12-month period. With the exception of the control group, which was only studied for three months. In the ERT group the corporal weight and the BMI significantly increased at six months (p < 0.01 y p < 0.006, respectively), without changes in the other parameters. The control group had no significant changes in the analyzed parameters during the study time. When the group with ERT was compared with the control group at third month, there was a significant increase in weight (p < 0.05) in the control group. Without any differences in the other analyzed variables between the groups. It was not possible to demonstrate that corporal weight and body fat distribution were permanently modified in those patients with ERT. These data agree with recent reports in which no changes have been detected with hormone replacement therapy usage.