At age 50, the risk of cardiometabolic disease in women increases more rapidly than in men. A study from the University of Jyväskylä in Finland has detailed how a decrease in female sex hormones alters a woman’s metabolism and causes changes in the profile of blood metabolites that can increase cholesterol, weight, risk of diabetes or heart attack. Metabolites are substances that are generated both by internal processes in the body and by nutrition and other external agents. What happens during menopause? A woman is born with a specific ovarian reserve – with a certain number of oocytes. When the fertile stage occurs, these cells divide each month to produce about 20 ovarian follicles. Only one or two follicles develop into a mature egg suitable for fertilization, and during these two weeks of maturation until ovulation, they release estrogen. The number of eggs is finite, and when menopause occurs, it is depleted, stopping the production of ovarian follicles and with it the production of estrogen. In parallel with the reduction of these sex hormones, the risk of cardiometabolic diseases in women increases. However, it is difficult to determine whether this increased risk is due to aging or the hormonal changes of menopause. Menopause and cardiovascular risk The risk of cardiovascular disease can be easily studied by measuring the levels of metabolites in the blood: the overall metabolite profile gives a clear picture of the metabolic state. The decline in sex hormones can also be easily traced through blood tests. With all these data, the researchers were able to determine for the first time which changes in the metabolite profile are related to the hormonal changes during menopause. Most of the changes have a negative impact and are indicative of an increased risk of cardiometabolic disease. Higher “bad” cholesterol During menopause, levels of apolipoprotein B – it is the main protein of LDL cholesterol or bad cholesterol that circulates in the blood – increase. Levels of lipids transported by lipoproteins also increase, especially triglycerides transported by VLDL particles and cholesterol transported by LDL particles. VLDL and LDL particles are known to cause atherosclerosis. Lower “good” cholesterol HDL cholesterol particles – Good cholesterol differs from VLDL and LDL particles because HDL transports excess cholesterol from the blood to the liver for breakdown. HDL particles vary in size. In the women studied, the number of small HDL particles increased during menopause, while the number of large HDL particles remained the same. Each HDL particle captures cholesterol from the body’s organs and tissues to take it to the liver. At first the particles are small, but the more cholesterol they absorb, the more their volume increases. Therefore, it is more important to have a high percentage of large HDL particles,which is not seen in menopause. HDL cholesterol levels increase during menopause. However, elevated levels of HDL cholesterol do not appear to protect women from cardiovascular disease. More comprehensive analyzes show that the size distribution and content of HDL particles change in an unfavorable direction, the scientists explain. HDL can rise during menopause, but they are small particles that have taken up some cholesterol. Increased risk of type 2 diabetes Researchers found changes in other metabolites related to energy metabolism and metabolic health: Levels of ketones, substances the body produces when cells don’t get enough glucose, increased. Levels of glycerol, a component of fat, increase during menopause. Of the amino acid levels, glutamine decreases while leucine increases. In addition, the profile of fatty acids in the blood changes from unsaturated – “good” fats to saturated – more harmful fats. According to previous studies, these changes may be associated with a deterioration in insulin sensitivity, which may predispose women to type 2 diabetes. The implications not all negative One positive finding from the study is that inflammation levels do not increase during menopause. Low-grade inflammation develops especially with an unhealthy lifestyle and obesity, which increases the risk of a number of chronic diseases. The study suggests that the hormonal change of menopause has no direct effect on increased inflammation. The protective effect of hormone replacement therapy The decline in female sex hormones has a direct effect on metabolism. This was further supported by the finding that women taking hormone replacement therapy had lower levels of LDL, the bad cholesterol, and higher levels of HDL, the good cholesterol. Hormonal change during menopause accelerates metabolic processes that predispose women to cardiometabolic diseases. References: https://www.sabervivirtv.com/ginecologia/por-que-menopausia-ganar-peso-sube-colesterol_7206 https://academic.oup.com/eurjpc/advance-article/doi/10.1093/eurjpc/zwac060 /6580397?searchresult=1Levels of glycerol, a component of fat, increase during menopause. Of the amino acid levels, glutamine decreases while leucine increases. In addition, the profile of fatty acids in the blood changes from unsaturated – “good” fats to saturated – more harmful fats. According to previous studies, these changes may be associated with a deterioration in insulin sensitivity, which may predispose women to type 2 diabetes. The implications not all negative One positive finding from the study is that inflammation levels do not increase during menopause. Low-grade inflammation develops especially with an unhealthy lifestyle and obesity, which increases the risk of a number of chronic diseases. The study suggests that the hormonal change of menopause has no direct effect on increased inflammation. The protective effect of hormone replacement therapy The decline in female sex hormones has a direct effect on metabolism. This was further supported by the finding that women taking hormone replacement therapy had lower levels of LDL, the bad cholesterol, and higher levels of HDL, the good cholesterol. Hormonal change during menopause accelerates metabolic processes that predispose women to cardiometabolic diseases. References: https://www.sabervivirtv.com/ginecologia/por-que-menopausia-ganar-peso-sube-colesterol_7206 https://academic.oup.com/eurjpc/advance-article/doi/10.1093/eurjpc/zwac060 /6580397?searchresult=1Levels of glycerol, a component of fat, increase during menopause. Of the amino acid levels, glutamine decreases while leucine increases. In addition, the profile of fatty acids in the blood changes from unsaturated – “good” fats to saturated – more harmful fats. According to previous studies, these changes may be associated with a deterioration in insulin sensitivity, which may predispose women to type 2 diabetes. The implications not all negative One positive finding from the study is that inflammation levels do not increase during menopause. Low-grade inflammation develops especially with an unhealthy lifestyle and obesity, which increases the risk of a number of chronic diseases. The study suggests that the hormonal change of menopause has no direct effect on increased inflammation. The protective effect of hormone replacement therapy The decline in female sex hormones has a direct effect on metabolism. This was further supported by the finding that women taking hormone replacement therapy had lower levels of LDL, the bad cholesterol, and higher levels of HDL, the good cholesterol. Hormonal change during menopause accelerates metabolic processes that predispose women to cardiometabolic diseases. References: https://www.sabervivirtv.com/ginecologia/por-que-menopausia-ganar-peso-sube-colesterol_7206 https://academic.oup.com/eurjpc/advance-article/doi/10.1093/eurjpc/zwac060 /6580397?searchresult=1