This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Gambacciani, M. Articles by Genazzani, A. R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Gambacciani, M. Articles by Genazzani, A. R. Pubmed/NCBI databases Compound via MeSH Substance via MeSH Hazardous Substances DB CALCIUM COMPOUNDS CALCIUM, ELEMENTAL

Body Weight, Body Fat Distribution, and Hormonal Replacement Therapy in Early Postmenopausal Women

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology "Piero Fioretti," University of Pisa, and Medical Department, Schering S.p.A. (R.O.), Milan, Italy

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Marco Gambacciani, M.D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56100 Pisa, Italy.

Body weight was measured, and body fat distribution was determined by dual energy x-ray in early postmenopausal women given either oral calcium (500 mg/day; control group; n = 12) or hormonal replacement therapy (HRT), a combination of estradiol valerate (2 mg/day for 21 days) with cyproterone acetate (1 mg/day in the last 10 days of the treatment cycle; n = 15). There were no differences in basal body weight or body fat distribution in the two groups before the study. In the control group, a significant (P < 0.05) increase in body weight (from 61.8 ± 2.1 to 63.3 ± 1.9 kg after 12 months) paralleled a slight, but significant (P < 0.05), increase in total body fat mass (from 23.8 ± 2.2 to 24.7 ± 2.2 kg), with an increase in fat in the trunk (from 10.2 ± 0.4 to 11.3 ± 0.4 kg; P < 0.01) and arms (from 2.4 ± 0.5 to 2.7 ± 0.2 kg; P < 0.05). These findings demonstrate a shift to a prevalent central android fat distribution after 12 months of observation in untreated postmenopausal women. Conversely, in the HRT group, total body bone mineral showed a significant (from 1089 ± 28 to 1106 ± 29 mg/cm²; P < 0.05) increase after 12 months, with no significant increase in body weight (from 62.2 ± 1.6 to 62.7 ± 1.6 kg), and no modifications in trunk (from 10.0 ± 0.2 to 9.8 ± 0.3 kg) and arm (from 2.43 ± 0.2 to 2.5 ± 0.1 kg) fat, but a significant increase in leg fat (from 7.1 ± 0.3 to 8.3 ± 0.4 kg; P < 0.05). The present results suggest that HRT can counteract at least in part the postmenopausal increase in body weight and body fat and prevent central body fat distribution after menopause.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. Santosa and M. D. Jensen Why are we shaped differently, and why does it matter? Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, September 1, 2008; 295(3): E531 - E535. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. M. Pino, J. M. Rodriguez, S. Rios, P. Astudillo, L. Leiva, G. Seitz, M. Fernandez, and J P. Rodriguez Aromatase activity of human mesenchymal stem cells is stimulated by early differentiation, vitamin D and leptin J. Endocrinol., December 1, 2006; 191(3): 715 - 725. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Z. Chen, T. Bassford, S. B Green, J. A Cauley, R. D Jackson, A. Z LaCroix, M. Leboff, M. L Stefanick, and K. L Margolis Postmenopausal hormone therapy and body composition--a substudy of the estrogen plus progestin trial of the Women's Health Initiative Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, September 1, 2005; 82(3): 651 - 656. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. S. Day, W. S. Gozansky, R. E. Van Pelt, R. S. Schwartz, and W. M. Kohrt Sex Hormone Suppression Reduces Resting Energy Expenditure and {beta}-Adrenergic Support of Resting Energy Expenditure J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 2005; 90(6): 3312 - 3317. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. K. Sites, G. D. L'Hommedieu, M. J. Toth, M. Brochu, B. C. Cooper, and P. A. Fairhurst The Effect of Hormone Replacement Therapy on Body Composition, Body Fat Distribution, and Insulin Sensitivity in Menopausal Women: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., May 1, 2005; 90(5): 2701 - 2707. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Heim, O. Frank, G. Kampmann, N. Sochocky, T. Pennimpede, P. Fuchs, W. Hunziker, P. Weber, I. Martin, and I. Bendik The Phytoestrogen Genistein Enhances Osteogenesis and Represses Adipogenic Differentiation of Human Primary Bone Marrow Stromal Cells Endocrinology, February 1, 2004; 145(2): 848 - 859. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Bhasin, W. E. Taylor, R. Singh, J. Artaza, I. Sinha-Hikim, R. Jasuja, H. Choi, and N. F. Gonzalez-Cadavid The Mechanisms of Androgen Effects on Body Composition: Mesenchymal Pluripotent Cell as the Target of Androgen Action J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., December 1, 2003; 58(12): M1103 - 1110. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. C. Woods, K. Gotoh, and D. J. Clegg Gender Differences in the Control of Energy Homeostasis Experimental Biology and Medicine, November 1, 2003; 228(10): 1175 - 1180. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. S. Gavaler and E. Rosenblum Predictors of Postmenopausal Body Mass Index and Waist Hip Ratio in the Oklahoma Postmenopausal Health Disparities Study J. Am. Coll. Nutr., August 1, 2003; 22(4): 269 - 276. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. E. Van Pelt, W. S. Gozansky, R. S. Schwartz, and W. M. Kohrt Intravenous estrogens increase insulin clearance and action in postmenopausal women Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, August 1, 2003; 285(2): E311 - E317. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. M. Kalish, E. Barrett-Connor, G. A. Laughlin, and B. I. Gulanski Association of Endogenous Sex Hormones and Insulin Resistance among Postmenopausal Women: Results from the Postmenopausal Estrogen/Progestin Intervention Trial J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., April 1, 2003; 88(4): 1646 - 1652. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. S. Ryan, B. J. Nicklas, and D. M. Berman Hormone Replacement Therapy, Insulin Sensitivity, and Abdominal Obesity in Postmenopausal Women Diabetes Care, January 1, 2002; 25(1): 127 - 133. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Munzer, S. M. Harman, P. Hees, E. Shapiro, C. Christmas, M. F. Bellantoni, T. E. Stevens, K. G. O'Connor, K. M. Pabst, C. St. Clair, et al. Effects of GH and/or Sex Steroid Administration on Abdominal Subcutaneous and Visceral Fat in Healthy Aged Women and Men J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., August 1, 2001; 86(8): 3604 - 3610. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. M. Evans, R. E. Van Pelt, E. F. Binder, D. B. Williams, A. A. Ehsani, and W. M. Kohrt Effects of HRT and exercise training on insulin action, glucose tolerance, and body composition in older women J Appl Physiol, June 1, 2001; 90(6): 2033 - 2040. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. E. E. Jones, A. W. Thorburn, K. L. Britt, K. N. Hewitt, N. G. Wreford, J. Proietto, O. K. Oz, B. J. Leury, K. M. Robertson, S. Yao, et al. Aromatase-deficient (ArKO) mice have a phenotype of increased adiposity PNAS, November 7, 2000; 97(23): 12735 - 12740. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Kobayashi, M. Tamura, M. Hayashi, Y. Katsuura, H. Tanabe, T. Ohta, and K. Komoriya Elevation of tail skin temperature in ovariectomized rats in relation to menopausal hot flushes Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, April 1, 2000; 278(4): R863 - R869. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. S. Fisher, W. M. Kohrt, and M. Brown Food restriction suppresses muscle growth and augments osteopenia in ovariectomized rats J Appl Physiol, January 1, 2000; 88(1): 265 - 271. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. M. Marsh, V. R. Walker, L. K . Curtiss, and C. L. Banka Protection against atherosclerosis by estrogen is independent of plasma cholesterol levels in LDL receptor-deficient mice J. Lipid Res., May 1, 1999; 40(5): 893 - 900. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				B. A. Walsh, B. L. Busch, A. E. Mullick, K. M. Reiser, and J. C. Rutledge 17ß-Estradiol Reduces Glycoxidative Damage in the Artery Wall Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol., April 1, 1999; 19(4): 840 - 846. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. M. H. Elbers, H. Asscheman, J. C. Seidell, and L. J. G. Gooren Effects of sex steroid hormones on regional fat depots as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging in transsexuals Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, February 1, 1999; 276(2): E317 - E325. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. M. Kohrt, A. A. Ehsani, and S. J. Birge Jr. HRT preserves increases in bone mineral density and reductions in body fat after a supervised exercise program J Appl Physiol, May 1, 1998; 84(5): 1506 - 1512. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]