Abdominal obesity and metabolic alterations in the menopausal trasition

BERG G; MESCH V; SISELES N

CURRENT OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY REPORTS

Springer

Año: 2012 p. 63 - 70

2161-3303

 The prevalence of overweight and obesity is strikinglyincreasing worldwide. Obesity is a major risk factorfor non–insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, cardiovasculardiseases, and cancer, and is also associated with variouspsychosocial consequences. Menopausal transition is associatedwith unfavorable changes in body composition andabdominal fat deposition, which is accompanied by an incrementof insulin resistance/hyperinsulinemia, a decreasein sex hormone-binding globulin levels and, consequently,an increase in free testosterone and greater androgenicity.Central body fat also correlates with deleterious changes inadipokines and inflammation markers like leptin, C-reactiveprotein, and adiponectin. In addition, the greater depositionof visceral fat in the menopausal transition contributes to thedevelopment of an atherogenic lipoprotein profile, whichincludes high triglyceride and low high-density lipoprotein(HDL) cholesterol concentrations, as well as an increment ofsmall dense low-density lipoprotein (LDL) subfraction, intermediatedensity lipoproteins (IDL), apolipoprotein (apo)B/apo A-I ratio and lipoprotein(a).