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Is there a menopausal metabolic syndrome?
C P Spencer1, I F Godsland, J C Stevenson
1Wynn Division of Metabolic Medicine, Imperial College School of Medicine, London.
Summary
Menopause leads to estrogen deficiency, causing adverse metabolic changes and increasing coronary heart disease risk. Estrogen replacement therapy can mitigate these menopausal metabolic syndrome effects.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Metabolic Health
Background:
- Estrogen-17 beta positively impacts metabolic risk factors for coronary heart disease.
- Menopause involves a decline in estrogen, potentially leading to adverse metabolic consequences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the literature on menopausal effects and estradiol-17 beta.
- To identify and describe a distinct menopausal metabolic syndrome linked to estrogen deficiency.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on menopause and estradiol-17 beta.
- Analysis of metabolic risk factors associated with estrogen decline.
Main Results:
- Menopause is associated with increased total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, and lipoprotein (a).
- Decreased HDL, impaired insulin sensitivity, increased android fat, and poorer vascular function are observed post-menopause.
- Estrogen deficiency contributes to a complex of inter-correlated adverse metabolic changes, termed menopausal metabolic syndrome.
Conclusions:
- Estrogen deficiency during menopause triggers a metabolic syndrome.
- This syndrome contributes to elevated coronary heart disease risk in postmenopausal women.
- Estrogen replacement therapy can reduce the manifestation of menopausal metabolic syndrome.