Federica Barbagallo, Agata Cavallaro, Rossella Cannarella, Andrea Crafa, Rosita A Condorelli, Sandro La Vignera, Laura Cucinella, Rossella E Nappi, Aldo E Calogero
{"title":"A preliminary analysis of the relationship between follicle-stimulating hormone and metabolic parameters in postmenopausal women.","authors":"Federica Barbagallo, Agata Cavallaro, Rossella Cannarella, Andrea Crafa, Rosita A Condorelli, Sandro La Vignera, Laura Cucinella, Rossella E Nappi, Aldo E Calogero","doi":"10.1080/09513590.2025.2562195","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>After menopause, women have a higher risk of developing metabolic disorders. The discovery of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) receptors in extra-ovarian tissues such as the adipose tissue suggests that FSH might influence metabolic processes in postmenopausal women. However, its role remains unclear. To examine the association between serum FSH levels and glucose and lipid metabolism in postmenopausal women. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 82 postmenopausal women (mean age 65.2 ± 8.1 years). Serum levels of FSH, 17β-estradiol (E2), glucose, insulin, HbA1c, total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides were measured. Insulin resistance was calculated using the HOMA-IR index. FSH levels did not significantly differ between women with and without dyslipidemia. However, FSH levels were significantly lower in women with type 2 diabetes (44.3 ± 13.8 IU/mL) compared to those with insulin resistance (60.6 ± 29.4 IU/mL) or normal glucose metabolism (69.4 ± 27.2 IU/mL; <i>p</i> = 0.045). Women in the lowest FSH quartile had higher glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR values. A significant inverse correlation between FSH and insulin (r = -0.30, <i>p</i> = 0.03) was found, stronger in women more than six years postmenopausal. Serum FSH levels inversely correlate with glucose metabolism disorders in postmenopausal women. These findings suggest a possible role of FSH in glucose metabolism, deserving further study starting from the menopausal transition.</p>","PeriodicalId":12865,"journal":{"name":"Gynecological Endocrinology","volume":"41 1","pages":"2562195"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7000,"publicationDate":"2025-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Gynecological Endocrinology","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/09513590.2025.2562195","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2025/9/24 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
After menopause, women have a higher risk of developing metabolic disorders. The discovery of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) receptors in extra-ovarian tissues such as the adipose tissue suggests that FSH might influence metabolic processes in postmenopausal women. However, its role remains unclear. To examine the association between serum FSH levels and glucose and lipid metabolism in postmenopausal women. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 82 postmenopausal women (mean age 65.2 ± 8.1 years). Serum levels of FSH, 17β-estradiol (E2), glucose, insulin, HbA1c, total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides were measured. Insulin resistance was calculated using the HOMA-IR index. FSH levels did not significantly differ between women with and without dyslipidemia. However, FSH levels were significantly lower in women with type 2 diabetes (44.3 ± 13.8 IU/mL) compared to those with insulin resistance (60.6 ± 29.4 IU/mL) or normal glucose metabolism (69.4 ± 27.2 IU/mL; p = 0.045). Women in the lowest FSH quartile had higher glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR values. A significant inverse correlation between FSH and insulin (r = -0.30, p = 0.03) was found, stronger in women more than six years postmenopausal. Serum FSH levels inversely correlate with glucose metabolism disorders in postmenopausal women. These findings suggest a possible role of FSH in glucose metabolism, deserving further study starting from the menopausal transition.
期刊介绍:
Gynecological Endocrinology , the official journal of the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology, covers all the experimental, clinical and therapeutic aspects of this ever more important discipline. It includes, amongst others, papers relating to the control and function of the different endocrine glands in females, the effects of reproductive events on the endocrine system, and the consequences of endocrine disorders on reproduction