Endogenous sex hormones and glucose tolerance status in postmenopausal women.

Abstract

CONTEXT:

In postmenopausal women, endogenous estradiol (E2) and free testosterone (T) have been positively associated with glucose intolerance and type 2 diabetes. Most studies have not examined these associations in a large group of postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE:

The objective was to examine the association between endogenous sex hormones and glucose tolerance in postmenopausal women.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS:

This was a cross-sectional study of 1973 postmenopausal women ages 45-84 yr, not taking hormone replacement therapy, in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis baseline examination.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and diabetes were defined based on fasting blood sugar and/or treatment for diabetes. In women with normal glucose tolerance, insulin resistance was estimated using homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR).

RESULTS:

Increasing quartiles of bioavailable T and E2 and decreasing quartiles of SHBG were associated with significantly increased odds of IFG and diabetes (all P for trend<0.001). Except for the association of bioavailable T with diabetes, the other associations persisted after multivariable adjustment. Although higher dehydroepiandrostenedione (DHEA) was associated with greater odds of IFG (P for trend=0.02), it was not associated with diabetes. Of 1100 women with normal glucose tolerance, E2 and DHEA were positively associated, and SHBG was inversely associated with HOMA-IR (all P<0.001) after multivariable adjustment. Bioavailable T was associated with HOMA-IR (P<0.001), but not fasting glucose.

CONCLUSION:

Of postmenopausal women, endogenous bioavailable T, E2, and DHEA were positively associated and SHBG was negatively associated with insulin resistance.

• Authors: Sherita Hill Golden, Adrian S Dobs, Dhananjay Vaidya, Moyses Szklo, Susan Gapstur, Peter Kopp, Kiang Liu, Pamela Ouyang
• Journal: The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism (J Clin Endocrinol Metab) Vol. 92 Issue 4 Pg. 1289-95 (Apr 2007) ISSN: 0021-972X [Print] United States
• PMID: 17244779 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Blood Glucose
• Testosterone
• Estradiol

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Blood Glucose (metabolism)
• Body Mass Index
• Body Size
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Estradiol (blood)
• Female
• Glucose Intolerance (epidemiology)
• Glucose Tolerance Test
• Humans
• Middle Aged
• Postmenopause
• Racial Groups
• Testosterone (blood)