Relationship between sex hormones, lipids and visceral fat area in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Objective To study the characteristics and correlation of sex hormone levels, blood lipids, and visceral fat area in postmenopausal women with T2DM. Methods A total of 258 cases of postmenopausal T2DM were recruited, including 46 cases of menopause for 1-5 years (group A), 49 cases of menopause for 6-10 years (group B), and 163 cases with menopause more than 10 years (C group). The related clinical information of patients was recorded. Results Compared among the three groups, there were statistical differences in total cholesterol(F=3.287, P=0.039) and testosterone(Chi-Square=8.324, P=0.016). No significant difference in FSH, LH, estradiol, low density lipoprotein, triglyceride, visceral fat area and subcutaneous fat area(P>0.05) among three groups was observed. After correction of confounding factors, FSH was independently positively related with for total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein respectively (P=0.006, P=0.009). LH was independently positively related with total cholesterol(P=0.003) and low-density lipoprotein respectively(P=0.003). Estradiol was independently negatively related with total cholesterol(P=0.014) and low-density lipoprotein(P=0.020), respectively. Testosterone was correlated independently with visceral fat area(P=0.008); FSH, LH, estradiol, and testosterone were not correlated to triglyceride and subcutaneous fat area(P>0.05). Conclusion (1)In T2DM patients with the increase of postmenopausal time, the total cholesterol increases first, and then decreases; testosterone decreases first, and then increases. (2)In T2DM patients, the total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein increase with the increase of FSH and LH, increase with the decrease of estradiol, and the area of visceral fat increases with the testosterone together. Key words: Diabetes mellitus, type 2; Postmenopausal women; Sex hormones; Blood lipids; Visceral fat area