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Sex Steroid, Gonadotropin, Cortisol, and Prolactin Levels in Healthy, Massively Obese Women: Correlation with Abdominal Fat Cell Size and Effect of Weight Reduction^*

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Turku, Finland
Central Laboratory, University of Turku Turku, Finland
Rehabilitation Research Center of Social Insurance Institution Turku, Finland

Address requests for reprints to: Matti Grönroos, M.D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Central Hospital, SF-20520 Turku 52, Finland.

To examine hormonal status in obese, gynecologically normal women we studied 25 regularly menstruating, massively obese (mean weight, 120 kg) women participating in a weight reduction program and 25 age-matched normal weight (mean weight, 60 kg) women. Serum 17β-estradiol (E₂), estrone (E₁), androstenedione (A), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, testosterone, LH, FSH, PRL, and cortisol concentrations were measured during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. Waist to hip ratio and abdominal fat cell size were measured at the beginning of the study. The serum levels of E₂ (P < 0.04) as well as those of A, SHBG, and LH (P < 0.002) were lower in the obese group. Consequently, the testosterone to SHBG ratio and the E₁ to A ratio were higher and the LH to FSH ratio was lower in this group. Waist to hip ratio did not correlate with the levels of circulating hormones or SHBG, but an inverse correlation was found between abdominal fat cell size and A as well as the LH to FSH ratio in the nonhirsute women of the obese group. Subsequent to moderate weight reduction (13.2 kg), serum A and Ei levels (P < 0.01) increased, and serum cortisol levels decreased (P < 0.001). Thus, massive obesity is associated with abnormalities in hormonal balance in gynecologically symptomless women, there being an association between E₁, E₂, A, LH, cortisol, and relative weight and/or abdominal fat cell size.

^* This work was supported by a grant from the Southwestern Division of the Finnish Cancer Society.

Received April 16, 1986.

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