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Menopause

Episodes

omega-3

How Omega-3s Support the Aging Brain

Posted on September 16th 2026 (20 days)

Dr. Rhonda Patrick explores omega-3s, brain volume, cognitive function, and the evidence linking DHA to Alzheimer's risk.

protein

How Protein and Resistance Training Protect Aging Muscle

Posted on October 31st 2025 (11 months)

Dr. Rhonda Patrick and Dr. Peter Attia explain how protein and resistance training work together to protect muscle and function with age.

protein

Why Older Adults Need More Protein

Posted on November 24th 2025 (11 months)

Dr. Rhonda Patrick and Dr. Peter Attia compare protein needs for older adults and how higher intake may preserve muscle and reduce frailty.

Topic Pages

  • Depression

    Estrogen withdrawal during menopause perturbs serotonergic, dopaminergic, glutamatergic and HPA-axis homeostasis, amplifying neuroinflammation and depression susceptibility.

  • Hydrolyzed collagen

    Estrogen decline during menopause accelerates dermal collagen degradation, while orally ingested hydrolyzed collagen peptides may partially restore fibroblast collagen synthesis.

News & Publications

  • Physical activity is linked to later menopause in women and a preserved ovarian egg reserve in female animals. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43587-026-01177-0
    Exercise Hormones Menopause

    The ovary is among the first organs to show age-related declines in women. Researchers combined large human datasets with mouse experiments to test whether physical activity might alter that trajectory.

    The researchers first examined the relationship between self-reported physical activity and menopause in two large human datasets, then had female mice exercise regularly on a treadmill for one month while controls spent the same sessions on it without running. Afterward, they counted primordial follicles, the dormant follicles that contain immature eggs, and measured a hormone marker of ovarian reserve.

    • After accounting for age, women who had not yet reached menopause reported more activity than those who had. Among postmenopausal women, greater activity was associated with a later reported age at menopause.
    • Treadmill-trained mice retained roughly 49% more primordial follicles than untrained controls after one month. They also had more total follicles and higher levels of a hormone marker of ovarian reserve.
    • Exercise also increased adiponectin, a signaling hormone best known for being released by fat tissue, in blood and ovaries. The ovaries also showed signs of making more of the hormone locally.
    • Reducing or removing adiponectin weakened much of the follicle-preserving effect of exercise. The benefit fell by 56% when adiponectin was absent throughout the body and by 76% when it was reduced specifically in the ovaries.
    • Activating the adiponectin pathway preserved follicles and prolonged fertility in aging mice.

    The ovarian reserve is affected not only by cell death, but by the pace at which primordial follicles begin developing. The mTOR pathway acts like part of the 'go' signal for that transition. Adiponectin pushed in the opposite direction in cultured ovaries, lowering mTOR activity and leaving more follicles dormant. Exercise increased this hormone inside the ovary, and the benefit shrank sharply when local production was reduced. That pattern places ovarian adiponectin as a possible link between physical activity and follicle preservation.

    The ovarian reserve may be finite, but the rate at which it is spent does not appear to be fixed. Exercise may be one factor that influences that decline.

    In this clip, Dr. Morgan Levine and I discuss how menopause can influence the pace of biological aging.

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  • Resistance training may lower blood pressure and resting heart rate after menopause, extending its potential benefits beyond muscle and bone. journals.physiology.org
    Menopause Exercise Aging Blood Pressure Cardiovascular

    Resistance training is usually framed as protection against muscle and bone loss after menopause.

    Its benefits may also reach cardiovascular regulation for women experiencing the vascular and autonomic effects associated with the hormonal transition of menopause.

    A systematic review examined 60 studies involving 1,931 women ages 52 to 78, including 45 randomized trials. Most programs used two or three sessions per week for eight to 24 weeks at roughly 50% to 80% of one-repetition maximum.

    Compared with no exercise:

    • Resistance training produced small standardized improvements in resting heart rate and diastolic blood pressure and moderate improvements in systolic and mean blood pressure. These were relative effect sizes, not absolute changes in millimeters of mercury.
    • Several nonpooled studies suggested modest improvements in vascular function and heart rate variability, but only three assessed cardiac structure.

    One thing the authors pointed out in this review is that every randomized trial was rated at high risk of bias. Menopause status was clearly reported in only one-third of the studies, while medication use, adherence, and adverse events were often poorly documented. The review also did not assess heart attacks, strokes, or cardiovascular mortality, leaving the clinical magnitude and an optimal prescription unresolved.

    Taken together, the findings suggest that resistance training's benefits after menopause may extend beyond the tissues it mechanically loads. They point to blood-pressure and autonomic regulation as plausible parts of that benefit, while leaving its clinical magnitude unresolved. Learn more about resistance training in this episode featuring muscle physiology expert Dr. Brad Schoenfeld.

    Study: Effects of resistance training on cardiovascular health in postmenopausal women: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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  • Hormone replacement therapy may be linked to better cognitive performance in aging women. doi.org
    Menopause Alzheimer's Cognition Dementia Estrogen Hormones

    Hormonal changes during and after menopause have wide-ranging effects on health. A new cross-sectional study examined whether hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was associated with better cognitive performance in older women.

    The researchers analyzed existing data from 1,374 women aged 60 or older who took part in one of two rounds of a U.S. national health survey. They compared women who reported ever using estrogen, progesterone, or both for menopause with women who reported never using HRT. They also calculated the number of years from each woman's first period to menopause as a rough proxy for the length of her natural estrogen exposure during the reproductive years. The women completed cognitive tasks that assessed verbal learning and memory by having them learn and later recall a list of words, verbal fluency by asking them to name as many animals as possible in one minute, and mental speed, attention, and working memory by having them match numbers with symbols as quickly and accurately as possible.

    • HRT was linked to better verbal learning and memory and better verbal fluency, while an initial association with better performance on the task measuring mental speed, attention, and working memory was no longer statistically clear after women with missing survey information were excluded.
    • The number of years between the first menstrual period and menopause was initially linked to better verbal learning and memory, but this association also did not hold after women with missing survey information were excluded. There were no clear links with verbal fluency, mental speed, attention, or working memory.
    • Exploratory age-based analyses suggested that the apparent separation in cognitive performance between HRT users and non-users was greatest around ages 65 to 70. However, the finding does not mean that starting HRT around ages 65 to 70 would lead to better cognitive outcomes.

    Estrogen can cross the blood-brain barrier and bind to estrogen receptors in several brain regions, including the hippocampus, which plays an important role in memory. Estrogen signaling influences several processes involved in brain function, including energy use, inflammatory responses, and blood flow in the brain. As estrogen levels fall after menopause, these processes may change in ways that affect a range of cognitive abilities. Estrogen-containing HRT could partly restore estrogen signaling and help support brain function.

    Because each woman was assessed only once, the study cannot prove that HRT caused better cognitive performance or slowed cognitive decline. The survey also did not record the type, dose, timing, or duration of HRT. Taken together, the findings suggest that cognitive health may be worth considering in discussions about HRT and that further research is warranted. In Q&A #61, I discuss whether women should start taking hormone replacement therapy before menopause.

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  • Antioxidant vitamins improved training gains in older women with sarcopenia. dx.doi.org
    Antioxidant Exercise Supplements Menopause

    Sarcopenia, the age-related decline in muscle mass and strength, exposes many older people to frailty, falls, and loss of independence. Exercise helps, yet the added value of antioxidant supplements in this setting is uncertain. Researchers in China asked whether vitamins C and E could boost the effects of a structured resistance training program in women already diagnosed with sarcopenia.

    The team enrolled 60 women aged 60 to 75 years who met Asian Working Group criteria for sarcopenia and randomly assigned them to two groups. One group received daily vitamin C (1000 milligrams) plus vitamin E (335 milligrams), while the comparison group took placebo tablets. All participants completed supervised, full-body elastic-band resistance training three times per week for 12 weeks, with two moderate sessions weekly and a third session that alternated between heavy and light workloads.

    Here are the key results:

    • At baseline, every participant had suboptimal blood vitamin C levels, and over half had low vitamin E.
    • Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans showed increases in lean tissue in both groups, yet the vitamin group gained more arm lean mass and had a larger rise in skeletal muscle mass index, meaning more women crossed above the diagnostic cutoff for low muscle mass.
    • Handgrip strength and knee extension strength increased with training alone, but gains were greater in the vitamin group, indicating a stronger improvement in both upper and lower limb force.
    • Widely used tests to assess lower body function and mobility in older adults improved over 12 weeks in both groups, with trends that favored vitamins but did not reach clear differences between the groups.
    • Only the supplemented group showed higher circulating vitamins C and E together with an improved glutathione redox ratio, a measure based on reduced and oxidized glutathione that reflects cellular antioxidant capacity.
    • Supplementation favorably affected markers of lipid and protein damage: malondialdehyde rose in the placebo group but fell with vitamins, while protein carbonyls increased in the placebo group but remained stable in the supplemented group. The inflammatory cytokine interleukin 6 (IL-6) dropped more in the supplemented women, even though tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) decreased similarly in both groups.

    These results link the superior muscle adaptations to better control of oxidative stress and reduced inflammation. By raising antioxidant vitamin levels and supporting glutathione, the supplements appeared to reduce stress-related damage to cell membranes and muscle proteins during training, which may have allowed the muscle tissue to adapt more effectively. Earlier studies in healthy older adults reported mixed and sometimes even detrimental, effects of vitamins C and E during resistance training, and this inconsistency may stem from differences in baseline antioxidant status. Because many women in this trial started with low vitamin C and E levels, correcting these deficiencies may have provided conditions that supported stronger training responses.

    The findings suggest that targeted antioxidant supplementation could be useful when older adults with sarcopenia start structured resistance training, particularly if their baseline vitamin status is poor. However, the trial involved only older women with sarcopenia, lacked groups receiving vitamins without exercise, and lasted only 12 weeks, so it cannot determine the isolated long-term effects of the supplements. In this clip, Dr. Stuart Phillips describes how muscle mass and strength decline with age and outlines their importance for maintaining quality of life.

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  • Low-dose creatine improved attention, reduced fatigue, and increased brain creatine levels in peri- and postmenopausal women doi.org
    Brain Hormones Creatine Menopause

    Many women going through menopause describe feeling mentally slower or more fatigued, a phenomenon often called "brain fog". Researchers in Serbia explored whether small daily doses of creatine could ease these symptoms and improve brain function.

    The study included 36 healthy women around 50 years old, half of whom were menopausal and half perimenopausal. Over eight weeks, participants took creatine capsules twice daily for eight weeks, totaling 750 mg or 1,500 mg of creatine hydrochloride per day, or a combination providing 400 mg of creatine hydrochloride plus 400 mg of creatine ethyl ester per day, or a placebo.

    Here is what the researchers found:

    • Low-dose creatine hydrochloride (750 mg/day) improved alertness, executive control, and information-processing speed. Women reacted roughly 5–6 percent faster on attention tasks compared with baseline, while the placebo group became about 1 percent slower.
    • Medium-dose creatine hydrochloride (1,500 mg/day) improved reaction time by 6.6 percent from baseline, compared with a 1.2 percent change in the placebo group. It also reduced general fatigue by about 14 percent and concentration difficulties by about 48 percent, with a trend toward fewer mood swings.
    • The combination of creatine hydrochloride and creatine ethyl ester (800 mg total/day) improved attention and reaction speed on a cognitive task, and uniquely lowered self-reported anxiety by about 39 percent.
    • Brain scans showed that all creatine treatments increased total creatine across multiple regions, with notable increases in frontal areas, which are involved in focus and decision-making. For example, right frontal white matter creatine rose by roughly 16 percent in the medium-dose group compared with less than 1 percent in the placebo group.

    Creatine helps recycle adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the molecule that powers most cellular activity. The authors suggest that menopause-related hormonal and metabolic changes might make women particularly responsive to creatine's energy-stabilizing effects. Even at these low doses, brain creatine rose measurably—possibly because of improved absorption or slower clearance during this life stage.

    Although the findings point to a safe and practical way to support attention, mood, and brain creatine levels during menopause, the trial was small, lasted only eight weeks, and included brain scans from just 16 participants. Larger, longer studies are needed to confirm these results and determine how different creatine formulations and doses might best support women's brain health. Explore the optimal creatine protocol for ftrength, brain, and longevity in episode #100, featuring Darren Candow, PhD.

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  • Regular intake of vitamin K1, found in leafy greens and plant oils, reduces risk of atherosclerotic disease-related events by 29% and related deaths by 43% among older women. link.springer.com
    Cardiovascular Diet Micronutrients Vitamin K Menopause

    Subtle changes in diet can influence whether blood vessels remain flexible or become stiff—a condition known as atherosclerosis. One nutrient that may help prevent stiffening of the arteries is vitamin K1, found in leafy greens and plant oils. A recent study found that older women who consumed the most vitamin K1—approximately 120 micrograms daily—had a 29% lower risk of atherosclerotic disease-related events and a 43% lower risk of dying from these conditions compared to women who consumed the least.

    Researchers determined the vitamin K1 intake of more than 1,400 Australian women (average age, 75) using a food frequency questionnaire. In a subset of more than 1,000 women, they also measured carotid artery intima-media thickness, a marker of early blood vessel disease. Then, using hospital records, they tracked cardiovascular-related hospitalizations and deaths over about 14 years.

    Women in the highest vitamin K1 intake group had healthier arteries, with an average artery wall thickness 5.6% lower than those in the lowest intake group. Over the follow-up period, women with the highest vitamin K1 intake were 29% less likely to experience cardiovascular events and 43% less likely to die from atherosclerotic conditions.

    These findings suggest that regular consumption of foods rich in vitamin K1—such as kale, spinach, broccoli, and plant oils—may help protect older women against both early artery changes and serious cardiovascular events later in life. Learn more about vitamin K in Aliquot #62: How vitamin K influences cardiovascular and bone health, a member-only perk.

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  • Pairing HIIT with vitamin D supplements more than doubles bone density gains in women with osteoporosis. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
    Bone Exercise Menopause

    Even a minor fall can cause a life-altering fracture for women with osteoporosis. Stronger bones can mean the difference between maintaining independence and facing long-term disability. A recent study found that combining high-intensity interval training (HIIT) with daily vitamin D supplements more than doubled the gains in bone mineral density compared to each intervention alone.

    Researchers enrolled 120 sedentary women aged 30 to 50, all diagnosed with osteoporosis. They randomly assigned participants to one of four groups: a control group, a vitamin D group (800 IU per day), an exercise-only group (16 weeks of HIIT), and a combined group that did both. Before and after the intervention, researchers measured bone mineral density of the hips and spine and markers of bone turnover in the blood.

    They found that the group combining HIIT and vitamin D supplementation showed the greatest improvements in bone mineral density at the hips and lumbar spine, with a 3.2% improvement in hip bone mineral density, surpassing the 1.5% increase in the HIIT-only group and the 1.2% increase in the vitamin D-only group. Blood levels of calcium and osteocalcin increased the most in the combined group, while bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (a marker of bone breakdown) decreased. Improvements in bone mineral density were linked to higher calcium and osteocalcin levels and lower body mass index.

    These findings suggest that pairing HIIT with vitamin D supplements boosts bone strength in women with osteoporosis, helping to slow or even reverse bone loss during midlife. Learn more about the effects of HIIT on bone density in this clip featuring Dr. Martin Gibala.

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  • Menopausal hormone therapy accelerates tau protein buildup in brain regions linked to Alzheimer's in women over 70, potentially contributing to their higher vulnerability to the disease. www.science.org
    Brain Alzheimer's Hormones Dementia Menopause

    According to some estimates, Alzheimer’s disease will affect nearly 14 million Americans by 2060, with women comprising two-thirds of those cases. Research indicates that this disparity arises from the buildup of tau, a protein linked to cognitive decline, which occurs earlier and progresses more rapidly in women. A recent study found that menopausal hormone therapy accelerates tau accumulation in older women, potentially contributing to this heightened risk.

    The study involved 146 cognitively healthy women between the ages of 51 and 89. Researchers used brain scans to measure the accumulation of amyloid-beta and tau proteins in the women’s brains and gathered information about their menopausal hormone usage.

    They found that women over 70 who had used hormone therapy showed faster tau buildup in key brain regions linked to Alzheimer’s disease. This increase in tau was also associated with greater cognitive decline. However, in younger women—those under 70—hormone therapy had little to no effect on tau accumulation.

    These findings suggest that the timing of hormone therapy plays a critical role in brain health, supporting the idea that initiating treatment earlier in menopause may be safer. Understanding how hormone therapy influences tau buildup could help refine guidelines for menopausal treatment and Alzheimer’s risk reduction. Learn more about factors that influence the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in this clip featuring Dr. Dale Bredesen.

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  • Almost 40% of postmenopausal breast cancer cases can be linked to excess body fat, nearly twice the number typically associated when only using BMI measurements. jech.bmj.com
    Hormones Breast Cancer Fat Menopause

    Roughly one-tenth of postmenopausal breast cancers are linked to high body mass index (BMI)—a measure of excess body fat. However, BMI is unreliable, especially in older women, because it doesn’t account for age, sex, or ethnicity. Using newer, more accurate body fat assessments, a recent study predicted that nearly 40% of breast cancers are due to excess body fat.

    The study involved 1,033 women with breast cancer and 1,143 women without. Researchers calculated their body fat using BMI and CUN-BAE, a body fat estimator that accounts for age and sex. Then, they calculated the proportion of breast cancer cases linked to body fat.

    They found that 23% of postmenopausal breast cancer cases were linked to excess body fat when assessed by BMI, but the estimate jumped to 38% with CUN-BAE. Among women with hormone receptor-positive tumors, CUN-BAE indicated a striking 41.9% of cases were attributable to excess body fat—more than double the 19.9% predicted with BMI.

    These findings suggest that using BMI alone underestimates the cancer burden from excess body fat, especially for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. Approximately 43% of postmenopausal women in the U.S. have obesity, markedly increasing their risk for breast cancer. Sulforaphane, a bioactive compound derived from broccoli, exerts potent anticancer effects. Learn more in this episode featuring Dr. Jed Fahey.

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  • Regular resistance training improves heart function in older women in just six months. link.springer.com
    Exercise Aging Heart Disease Menopause

    Keeping our hearts strong and healthy becomes increasingly challenging as we age, especially for older women. However, physical activity, especially resistance training, may benefit the heart. A recent study found that a 24-week resistance training program improved heart function in older women.

    Researchers assigned 73 physically independent older women (average age, 68) to either an exercise training or sedentary group. The training group participated in a supervised resistance training program three times weekly for 24 weeks, using machines and free weights. Each session included exercises targeting the whole body, with three sets of eight to 12 repetitions each. The researchers measured the participants' cardiac function before and after the program.

    They found that women in the training group experienced several improvements in heart function, including: - A 10.6% decrease in left ventricular volume versus a 1.1% increase in the sedentary group. - A 9.1% decrease in left atrial volume versus a 3.9% increase in the sedentary group. - Better heart relaxation, indicated by a 4.8% reduction in the diastolic function index.

    These findings suggest that regular resistance training improves heart structure and function in older women, potentially reducing the risk of age-related cardiac decline. Finding the time for resistance training can be difficult, however. Listen as Drs. Brad Schoenfeld and Stuart Phillips describe time-efficient ways to incorporate resistance training into a busy schedule.

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  • Eating blueberries multiple times a week slashes the risk of age-related macular degeneration by up to 64 percent. www.sciencedirect.com
    Diet Eyes Polyphenol Menopause

    Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss in older adults. However, evidence suggests that some dietary components reduce the risk of the disease. A recent study found that eating blueberries cuts the risk of age-related macular degeneration by 64 percent.

    The study involved roughly 35,000 middle-aged and older women enrolled in the Women’s Health Study. Researchers used questionnaires to collect information about the women’s blueberry intake and eye health for about 11 years.

    They found that eating blueberries one to three times a month reduced the risk of age-related macular degeneration by 10 percent, eating them once a week by 29 percent, more than once a week by 32 percent, and two or more times a week by 64 percent. Eating more blueberries didn’t show a protective effect against developing cataracts; however, higher anthocyanin intake did confer a 10 percent reduction in risk.

    Blueberries are rich in anthocyanins – a class of flavonoid compounds that exert robust antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties via hormetic effects. Learn about the hormetic effects of anthocyanin-rich blueberries as well as other hormetic compounds in this smoothie recipe video.

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  • Yoga improves memory and boosts cognition in older women at risk for Alzheimer's, demonstrating increased hippocampal connectivity and expression of anti-aging markers. www.sciencedaily.com
    Exercise Brain Alzheimer's Aging Memory Dementia Menopause

    Yoga is an ancient Indian practice that engages the mind and body through physical poses, breathing techniques, and meditation. Robust scientific evidence suggests that yoga benefits both mental and physical health. A new study found that Kundalini yoga – a type of yoga that involves specific postures, breathing techniques, and meditation – boosted cognition and memory in older women at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

    The study involved 63 older women who had self-reported memory problems and cerebrovascular conditions – risk factors for Alzheimer’s. About half the women participated in a weekly yoga session, while the other half participated in weekly memory training. Researchers assessed the women’s cognitive function and moods before and after the two interventions. They also measured markers of aging and inflammation in the women’s blood and assessed changes in their brains using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

    They found that the women who participated in yoga experienced marked improvements in memory, increased connectivity in the hippocampus, and increased expression of anti-inflammatory and anti-aging markers** compared to those who did memory work only. The MRIs revealed that the brains of the women in the yoga group showed less age-related volume loss.

    Women are at greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease than men, partly due to having higher rates of cardiovascular conditions, many of which share risk factors with Alzheimer’s. In addition, the decrease in protective estrogen during menopause may also amplify cognitive declines.

    These findings suggest that Kundalini yoga benefits women at risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Evidence indicates that vigorous exercise can boost cognitive function, too. Learn more in this episode featuring Dr. Martin Gibala.

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  • Female sex hormone influences Alzheimer's pathology in mice, with implications for prevention and treatment. www.sciencedaily.com
    Brain Alzheimer's Hormones Heat Stress Estrogen Acetylcholine Menopause

    Alzheimer’s disease disproportionally affects women, who account for nearly two-thirds of all cases worldwide. Some evidence suggests female sex hormones influence the pathology and progression of Alzheimer’s disease. A recent study in mice shows that the brains of male and female mice with Alzheimer’s regulate amyloid-beta protein differently, with the hormone estradiol playing a critical role.

    Researchers measured amyloid-beta accumulation in male and female mice when exposed to differing levels of cholinergic tone (acetylcholine release). Then, they examined the effects of removing the ovaries (the primary source of estradiol) and estradiol replacement on this relationship. Finally, using magnetic resonance imaging techniques, they assessed the amyloid-beta burden in the brains of 130 older adults.

    They found that acetylcholine activity and the development of amyloid-related issues in male and ovariectomized female mice were directly linked. This link, however, was not observed in female mice with intact ovaries or females without ovaries that received estradiol. They also found that the age-related decline in acetylcholine worsens the amyloid-beta burden in older adults.

    Amyloid-beta is a toxic protein that clumps together, forming plaques in the brain – a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. Cholinergic neurons are vital for cognition and perception. They release acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that facilitates impulse firing between neurons. Cholinergic neurons are particularly vulnerable to amyloid-beta’s toxic effects, which impair acetylcholine release. The relationship between acetylcholine and amyloid-beta is bidirectional: amyloid-beta aggregation impairs acetylcholine production, in turn increasing amyloid-beta aggregation, creating a vicious cycle.

    These findings suggest that estradiol, a female sex hormone, influences amyloid-beta burden in mice. They also highlight the need for Alzheimer’s research to consider sex differences, the relationship between acetylcholine signaling and amyloid-beta buildup, and the effects of sex hormones to better develop treatment strategies.

    Heat shock proteins inhibit amyloid-beta clumping and reduce amyloid-beta plaque toxicity. Sauna use increases heat shock protein production and activity, potentially reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Learn more in our sauna overview article.

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  • Spermidine supplementation revitalizes fertility and mitochondrial health in aging mice. medicalxpress.com
    Diet Mitochondria Supplements Menopause

    Female fertility decreases considerably with age, with nearly 87 percent of women over the age of 45 unable to conceive. However, some evidence suggests that dietary components can preserve fertility. A recent study in mice shows that spermidine, a molecule found in many common foods, including legumes, nuts, and cheese, improves fertility and egg quality.

    Researchers analyzed the ovarian metabolic profiles of young and old mice. Then, they supplemented the aged mice with spermidine and assessed its effects on ovarian function.

    They found that ovarian spermidine levels in older mice were notably lower than in younger mice, correlating with decreased oocyte (egg cell) quality and other indications of ovarian aging. However, administering spermidine to the older mice enhanced follicle development, oocyte maturation, and early embryonic development, thereby boosting the animals' overall fertility. They also found that the older mice exhibited impaired ovarian mitophagy, but spermidine restored it.

    Mitophagy, a form of autophagy, is the selective degradation of mitochondria. It helps ensure that the body’s cells are metabolically efficient, ultimately serving as a trigger for mitochondrial biogenesis, the process of producing new mitochondria. Failures in mitophagy are associated with several chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. Learn more about mitophagy and autophagy in our overview article.

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  • Higher fish and omega-3 intake linked to 12 percent lower hip fracture risk. www.nutraingredients-asia.com
    Diet Aging Omega-3 Bone Menopause

    Hip fractures can lead to a decline in self-reliance, diminished quality of life, and feelings of depression. However, some research suggests that consuming fish and omega-3 fatty acids influences a person’s risk of experiencing a hip fracture. A 2019 meta-analysis and systematic review found that higher fish and omega-3 intake reduces the risk of hip fracture by as much as 12 percent.

    Researchers reviewed the findings of 10 studies involving nearly 300,000 people. Seven of the studies followed people over time (prospective), and three compared groups with and without fractures (case-control).

    They found that people who consumed more fish had a lower risk of hip fractures, even when combining the results from prospective and case-control studies. They found the same protective effect for those who consumed higher omega-3s in their diets. Notably, the protective effect of fish and omega-3 intake remained only when considering larger prospective studies (involving 10,000 participants or more) or studies that included body mass index as a factor.

    These findings suggest that dietary intake of fish and omega-3s might promote bone health and reduce the risk of hip fractures. Other studies have proposed mechanisms by which omega-3s exert their beneficial effects. For example, one study found that DHA inhibits osteoclast formation and subsequent bone resorption by inhibiting the production of TNF-alpha, a pro-inflammatory molecule. A separate study demonstrated that resolvin, a byproduct of omega-3 metabolism, promotes bone preservation under inflammatory conditions and influences the PI3K-AKT pathway, a major signaling pathway implicated in many human diseases, including osteoporosis.

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  • Stem cell therapy shows promise in reversing premature ovarian insufficiency and restoring fertility, a study in mice reveals. www.technologynetworks.com
    Stem Cells Pregnancy Eyes Menopause

    Premature ovarian insufficiency – a condition in which the ovaries fail earlier than usual – affects more than 3.5 percent of females worldwide, often due to genetics, autoimmune disorders, or exposure to certain drugs, such as those used in chemotherapy. The condition has limited treatment options, but a new study in mice suggests that induced pluripotent stem cells could help.

    Induced pluripotent stem cells are stem cells that have been reprogrammed into an embryonic-like pluripotent state. They can develop into any type of human cell and are commonly used in biomedical research and treatment.

    Researchers reprogrammed granulosa cells from the ovaries of mice to become induced pluripotent stem cells and then allowed them to differentiate into oocytes (immature eggs). They transplanted the oocytes into the ovaries of mice with drug-induced premature ovarian insufficiency. Then, they bred the transplanted mice with normal animals to assess their fertility.

    They found that the induced pluripotent stem cells transformed into functional oocytes and ovarian cells, expressing specific markers for ovaries and germ cells. After transplantation, the animals' hormonal function and fertility normalized, and they gave birth to healthy mouse pups.

    These findings suggest that induced pluripotent stem cell-derived ovarian tissue can reverse the hormonal and reproductive problems characterized by premature ovarian insufficiency. They also highlight yet another potential use for induced pluripotent stem cells in ameliorating various human diseases. Learn how induced pluripotent stem cells may help treat macular degeneration in this clip featuring Dr. David Sinclair.

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  • Older women and those with obesity clear alcohol from their systems 52 percent faster, according to new research. www.technologynetworks.com
    Obesity Aging Metabolism Alcohol Menopause

    The effects of alcohol vary between people, largely due to differences in alcohol absorption rates and metabolism in the gut. A new study has found that older women and those with obesity clear alcohol from their systems 52 percent faster than younger women and those with healthy weights.

    Researchers analyzed the findings of three studies that investigated alcohol clearance rates in 143 women. They used a computer-assisted alcohol infusion system to model the self-administration of alcohol. They also measured the women’s body fat via DEXA or bioelectrical impedance.

    They found that women with obesity, particularly those who were older, cleared alcohol 52 percent faster than women with a healthy weight. They also found that age and lean body mass explained 72 percent of the differences in the alcohol elimination rate among women.

    These findings suggest that women with obesity eliminate alcohol faster than leaner women, likely due to the increase in fat-free mass that often accompanies obesity, especially in older women. Drinking alcohol increases a person’s risk for many chronic diseases, but exercise can help reduce alcohol cravings. Learn more in this short video featuring Dr. Rhonda Patrick.

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  • Resistance training – not just aerobic exercise – found to enhance skin health and potentially counteract skin aging. www.nature.com
    Exercise Aging Skin Menopause

    Aerobic exercise has profound effects on the human body – including the skin. Now findings from a new study suggest that resistance training slows skin aging. Women who engaged in resistance training had thicker, more resilient skin than women who engaged in aerobic exercise alone.

    Researchers compared the effects of aerobic versus resistance training on skin aging in 56 sedentary, middle-aged women. The participants engaged in a twice-weekly supervised exercise program involving either aerobic or resistance training for 16 weeks. The researchers evaluated the participants' skin properties, body composition, and physical capacity before and after the intervention.

    They found that both types of training improved skin elasticity and structure, but only resistance training increased the thickness of the dermis, the inner layer of the skin. Resistance training also increased levels of biglycan, a protein that promotes wound healing and skin resilience via its interactions with collagen. The researchers also noted an increase in the expression of genes related to the skin cells' extracellular matrix.

    These findings suggest that resistance training enhances several aspects of skin health, slowing the effects of skin aging. They also highlight yet another way in which resistance training bolsters health. Learn about other strategies to promote healthy, resilient skin in this Aliquot featuring Dr. Rhonda Patrick.

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  • Creatine supplementation improves bone quality but not bone density in postmenopausal women. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
    Diet Aging Bone Supplements Menopause

    Previous research has shown that creatine supplementation increases bone mass. But a recent trial in postmenopausal women found that creatine had little effect on bone mineral density. It did, however, improve aspects of bone quality.

    Researchers studied the effects of creatine monohydrate supplementation on the bone health of 237 postmenopausal women. Half of the participants took creatine (0.14 grams per kilogram of body weight of creatine, ~10 grams for a 160-pound female) daily for two years, while the other half took a placebo. All the participants engaged in a walking and resistance training exercise program. The researchers measured the women’s bone mineral density and other aspects of bone before and after the two-year intervention.

    They found that the creatine supplements had no significant effects on the women’s bone mineral density of the femoral neck, total hip, or lumbar spine compared to the placebo. However, creatine did improve aspects of their bone quality. Women who took creatine showed improvements in the section modulus (how resistant the bone is to bending and breaking) and the buckling ratio (how well the bone can withstand compression and maintain its shape without collapsing) at the narrow part of the femoral neck.

    Creatine is a nitrogen-containing compound that is produced in the liver and kidneys and is stored in the brain and muscles. It plays essential roles in the recycling of ATP and is widely used as a dietary supplement to build and maintain muscle mass.

    These findings suggest that supplemental creatine in conjunction with exercise did not affect bone mineral density in postmenopausal women, but it did improve certain aspects of bone quality. However, robust data support resistance training as a means to build bone mass. Learn more in this episode featuring Dr. Brad Schoenfeld.

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  • Higher cardiovascular fitness may delay the onset of dementia by 9.5 years. www.medscape.com
    Exercise Brain Aging Dementia Cardiovascular Menopause

    Higher cardiovascular fitness delays brain aging and the onset of dementia in women, a 2018 study showed. Women with high cardiovascular fitness levels experienced nearly a decade’s delay in dementia onset than those with moderate fitness levels.

    The study involved 191 middle-aged women. Participants completed a cycling test to gauge their cardiovascular fitness and underwent regular neuropsychiatric testing to determine if they developed dementia during their lifetime.

    Compared to women with moderate cardiovascular fitness levels, women with high cardiovascular fitness levels were 88 percent less likely to develop dementia. However, those with low fitness levels were 41 percent more likely to develop dementia. Higher fitness delayed the onset of dementia by 9.5 years compared to those with moderate fitness.

    Cardiovascular fitness is a measure of how well the heart, lungs, and blood vessels transport oxygen to the muscles during exercise. Exercise contributes to cardiovascular fitness because it exerts robust effects on the cardiovascular system, boosting heart rate, blood pressure, and cardiac output. Interestingly, sauna use exerts similar effects on the cardiovascular system. Learn more in our overview article.

    These findings suggest that cardiovascular fitness protects against dementia in women. Learn more about the effects of cardiovascular fitness on brain health in this short video featuring Dr. Rhonda Patrick.

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  • Increasing activity levels improves sleep quality in women. neurosciencenews.com
    Exercise Sleep Menopause

    A new study shows that replacing sedentary time with physical activity improves sleep in women. Women who swapped just one hour of sedentary time or low-intensity activity with moderate- or vigorous-intensity activity slept better and felt more rested.

    Researchers investigated the effects of replacing sedentary time with physical activity. The study involved 683 men and women between the ages of 40 and 64 years. The participants wore accelerometers to gauge their activity levels for one week and reported their sleep quality.

    The researchers found that sleep measures improved when women replaced sedentary behavior or low-intensity physical activity with moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity. Interestingly, they found no associations between altering men’s activity levels and sleep quality, highlighting the sex-related differences in response to exercise.

    These findings indicate that engaging in moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity improves sleep quality in middle-aged women. They also align with other studies that show that exercise improves sleep. Sleep is essential for human health. Learn more about the benefits of sleep in this episode featuring Dr. Matthew Walker.

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  • Growth hormone cuts fracture risk in half for women with osteoporosis. endocrinenews.endocrine.org
    Aging Hormones Estrogen Bone Menopause

    Growth hormone improves bone density and reduces the risk of fractures in women with osteoporosis, according to a 2015 study. Women who received growth hormone were half as likely to experience a fracture over a 10-year period than women who did not.

    The study involved 80 women (50 to 70 years old) who had osteoporosis and were taking estrogen-based hormone replacement therapy. Researchers randomly assigned the women to receive daily injections of either a low or high dose of growth hormone for three years or a placebo for 18 months. All the women took daily vitamin D and calcium supplements for the study’s duration. The researchers measured the women’s body composition and bone mass at regular intervals.

    They found that women who received growth hormone injections showed marked improvements in their bone mineral density and bone mineral content compared to those who received the placebo. Over the 10-year period, the number of fractures among the women who received growth hormone dropped from 56 percent to 28 percent, whereas fractures among those who received the placebo increased from 8 percent to 32 percent.

    Growth hormone, a peptide hormone produced in the pineal gland, promotes growth in childhood and adolescence. During middle age, growth hormone production decreases. Some evidence suggests that because growth hormone is secreted at night (during sleep), not getting enough sleep may hinder growth hormone release, exacerbating age-related bone loss. Learn how body temperature can influence how well you sleep at night in this clip featuring Dr. Matthew Walker.

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  • Plant-based estrogen supplements aren't as effective at maintaining bone health as claimed. www.purdue.edu
    Estrogen Bone Supplements Menopause

    Plant-derived estrogen-like compounds found in dietary supplements are not as effective at reducing bone loss as claimed, a 2009 study showed. When compared to conventional therapies such as hormones or anti-osteoporosis drugs, the plant-based treatments were roughly four to five times less effective at reducing bone loss.

    Over a period of 50 days, 11 postmenopausal women received six different treatments: soy cotyledon (the first leaves to appear on the plant), soy germ, kudzu (a plant used in traditional and folk medicine), red clover, risedronate (a drug used to treat osteoporosis), and estrogen combined with progesterone. Researchers measured the women’s bone loss after each treatment.

    They found that the different treatments reduced bone loss to varying degrees: estrogen combined with progesterone, 24 percent; risedronate, 22 percent; soy cotyledon, 9 percent; soy germ, 5 percent. Red clover and kudzu had only marginal effects on reducing bone loss. Bone loss is a common feature of aging, especially among post-menopausal women.

    Estrogen preserves bone health and is commonly prescribed as a treatment for women with osteoporosis. However, estrogen therapies and many common anti-osteoporosis drugs carry health risks. Plant-derived estrogen-like compounds, often referred to as phytoestrogens, are often touted as viable alternatives to conventional therapies.

    This study demonstrates that plant-based therapies are less effective at reducing bone loss than hormonal or pharmaceutical therapies. They also underscore the importance of building bone mass in early life. Resistance exercise has been shown to preserve and even increase bone mass in postmenopausal women. Learn more about the effects of resistance training on bone health in this episode featuring Dr. Brad Schoenfeld.

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  • Common estrogen receptor genotype may double HDL cholesterol increase in response to estrogen therapy in postmenopausal women. (2002) www.sciencedaily.com
    Hormones Heart Disease Cholesterol Genetics Estrogen Menopause

    From the article:

    In an analysis of 309 women with heart disease who took hormone replacement therapy or placebo, Herrington found that women with a common mutation in the estrogen receptor alpha gene had dramatic increases in high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or the “good” cholesterol.

    “The increase in HDL was more than twice as much as in women without the gene variant,” said Herrington.

    […]

    Herrington found that 18 percent of women had a genetic predisposition to high levels of HDL cholesterol when taking estrogen. The HDL increase was dramatic – it was two or three times what is normally achieved with cholesterol drugs used to raise HDL.

    From the publication:

    Postmenopausal women with coronary disease who have the ER-α IVS1–401 C/C genotype, or several other closely related genotypes, have an augmented response of HDL cholesterol to hormone-replacement therapy.

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  • Size of estrogen dose may be critical in determining whether estrogen therapy leads to cardiovascular or kidney disease, mouse study suggests. (2008) www.sciencedaily.com
    Hormones Estrogen Cardiovascular Menopause

    From the article:

    For a 60 day period ovariectomized (OVX) mice received the estrogen hormone 17β—estrodial (E2), a drug very similar to that used in treating the symptoms of menopause. The mice received one of four dosing levels every day throughout the study period: a very low (VL) dose (0.001 µg/d); a low (L) dose (0.42 µg/d); a moderate (M) dose (4.2 µg/d); or a high (H) dose (28.3 µg/d).

    The researchers found that:

    – Moderate and high doses of ERT increased the plasma estrogen levels in the mice more than four fold (4.5). This was associated with fluid retention in the uterus, amounts of protein in the urine, and dilated kidneys.

    – By contrast, low doses of E2 restored plasma estrogen to levels similar to the control rats and neither fluid retention nor renal damage was found in this group of mice.

    – Moderate and high doses of E2 also increased atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), a cardiac hormone that is increased as a marker of severity of heart failure. At low level dosing this did not occur.

    – Overall blood pressure and cardiac function were not changed by ERT at any given dose.

    […]

    Other factors such as the ratio of estrogen to progestin, the age when the therapy begins and the cardiovascular health_ of the patient when treatment starts may also be important factors to investigate.

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  • Estrogen plus progestin use may be associated with increased breast cancer incidence, especially when its use is initiated close to menopause. (2013) www.sciencedaily.com
    Hormones Breast Cancer Estrogen Mortality Menopause

    From the article:

    The researchers found that breast cancer incidence was higher in estrogen plus progestin users than incidence in nonusers. Women who started hormone therapy closer to menopause had a higher breast cancer risk with a weakening influence as the time from menopause increased.

    “Because survival after breast cancer diagnosis did not differ between estrogen plus progestin users and nonusers, the higher breast cancer incidence of those using estrogen plus progestin may lead to increased breast cancer mortality on a population basis,” the authors write.

    […]

    “In general, tumors in estrogen plus progestin users in the WHI Observational Study were not significantly different from those in non-hormone users with regard to number of positive lymph nodes or tumor size, but were more likely to be well differentiated and positive for hormone receptors, findings which are similar to other observational studies.” This, however, did not translate into a survival benefit.

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  • Estrogen therapy may reduce susceptibility and inflammatory responses to urinary tract infections in postmenopausal women, mouse study suggests.(2013) www.sciencedaily.com
    Hormones Inflammation Estrogen Menopause

    From the article:

    To simulate menopause in mice, scientists surgically remove their ovaries. Like menopausal women, the mice no longer make estrogen.

    To rule out the possibility that the stress of surgery affects the risk of urinary tract infections, the researchers conducted the same surgery in other mice but put the ovaries back in, maintaining their ability to make estrogen.

    When researchers gave both groups of mice urinary tract infections, the menopausal mice had higher levels of infectious bacteria in their urine. Most of the bacteria came from barrier cells, which line the interior of the bladder. These cells are the first to be infected by the bacteria.

    “When the barrier cells are lost, they need to be replaced immediately,” Mysorekar says. “In the menopausal mice, we found that this replacement process was stopping short of completion. That left cells under barrier cells exposed, and they are much more vulnerable to infection.”

    The menopausal mice had more bacterial reservoirs, which are pockets of infection that may provide a place for the bacteria to hide during antibiotic treatment. After treatment stops, the reservoirs can reseed the infection.

    In earlier research, Mysorekar had identified an important regulator of the barrier cell repair process. In the new study, she showed that low estrogen levels disable this regulator.

    The bladders of the menopausal mice also had higher levels of immune inflammatory compounds known as cytokines.

    “The cytokines caused inflammation that left the bladder in bad shape,” Mysorekar says. “It’s possible that damage caused by inflammation increases the bacteria’s ability to break into bladder tissue and create reservoirs of infection.”

    In the control mice, which had normal estrogen levels, cytokine levels and inflammatory damage were both significantly lower. When researchers gave the menopausal mice estrogen, their cytokine levels and inflammatory damage also decreased significantly, as did reservoirs of infectious bacteria.

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  • Taking estradiol may slow progression of atherosclerosis in healthy postmenopausal women. (2001) www.sciencedaily.com
    Hormones Heart Disease Cholesterol Estrogen Cardiovascular Menopause

    From the article:

    Called the Estrogen in the Prevention of Atherosclerosis Trial (EPAT) the study monitored how much artery walls thickened over two years in 222 healthy postmenopausal women who took unopposed estrogen or a placebo.

    Women on estrogen therapy saw their atherosclerosis rate decrease by .0017 millimeters (mm) per year over two years, while artery wall thickness increased by .0036 mm per year over two years in women who took a placebo.

    As a guideline, Hodis says, an increase of .033 mm per year translates to a two-to-three-fold increase in risk of events such as heart attacks, and a starting thickness of .8 mm or greater also puts an individual at high risk.

    […]

    Also, EPAT investigators could compare women who used cholesterol-lowering drugs against women who did not take such medication. Besides taking estrogen or a placebo, all women who started the trial with levels of 160 or higher of low-density lipoprotein (often called LDL or “bad” cholesterol) were put on a cholesterol-lowering medication.

    Among the group of women who took no cholesterol-lowering medications in EPAT, those on estrogen therapy had .0147 mm per year slower atherosclerosis progression than those who took a placebo.

    Interestingly, women who received both estrogen and cholesterol-lowering drugs had about the same decrease in atherosclerosis progression as women who took cholesterol-lowering drugs alone.

    Researchers do not know why the combination of estrogen and cholesterol-lowering drugs does not result in even further atherosclerosis improvement. “But the effects of lipid-lowering drugs are quite powerful,” Hodis says. “You’re probably not seeing any effect above that.”

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  • Postmenopausal women with colon cancer lived longer and had a 36% lower risk of dying from the disease if they had taken estrogen supplements. (2006) www.sciencedaily.com
    Cancer Hormones Estrogen Mortality Menopause

    From the article:

    The research by Chan and her colleagues drew on data from 834 postmenopausal women enrolled in the Nurses' Health Study – which has tracked the health of more than 100,000 female nurses since 1976 – who had been diagnosed with colon cancer between 1976 and 2000. The researchers found that, compared to women who had never used estrogen, those using the hormone at the time of diagnosis had a 36 percent lower chance of dying of colon cancer and a 26 percent lower chance of dying of any cause. The benefit was most pronounced in women who used estrogen for less than five years. Using it for longer, however, did not seem to provide a similar advantage.

    The authors do not know why using estrogen for more than five years did not improve women’s chances of survival. They theorize that colon tumors that developed in women who had used estrogen for many years may have been less susceptible to estrogen’s growth-slowing effects.

    The precise way by which estrogen foils the growth of colon cancer cells is unclear, as well. The study authors offer three possibilities: the hormone directly suppresses the cells' growth; it decreases the production of bile acids which are known to spur cancer; or it blocks certain genetic changes within colon cells that lead to cancer.

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  • Postmenopausal women may have lower postprandial fatty acid oxidation, greater meal fatty acid storage, and direct free fatty acid storage. (2013) www.sciencedaily.com
    Hormones Fat Estrogen Visceral Fat Menopause

    From the article:

    Santosa’s research compared fat storage in pre- and post-menopausal women. The 23 women who participated in the study were in the same age range, and had similar Body Mass Indices and body fat composition. These similarities allowed Santosa to isolate the effects of estrogen on fat absorption and storage.

    She and Jensen were able to examine the activity of certain enzymes and proteins that regulate fat storage in post-menopausal women’s abdomens and thighs. By considering these factors together rather than in isolation, the researchers determined conclusively that the overall fat storage “machinery” is more active in post-menopausal women. In other words, these cells now store more fat than they did before menopause.

    In addition, post-menopausal women burned less fat than their pre-menopausal colleagues. These changes mean that their cells are not only storing more fat, but are also less willing to part with it. This combination is a recipe for rapid weight gain. “Taken together, these changes in bodily processes may be more than a little surprising – and upsetting – for women who previously had little trouble managing their weight,” comments Santosa.

    Though the increased cellular activity revealed by this study was not specific to the abdominal region, more fat stored overall means more abdominal fat.

    From the publication:

    We found that meal FA [fatty acid] storage in subcutaneous fat was greater in postmenopausal than in premenopausal women. This difference was especially evident in the femoral depot, where meal FA [fatty acid] storage in postmenopausal women was double that of premenopausal women.

    […]

    The increase in fat storage stems from somewhat greater LPL [lipoprotein lipase] activity and significantly greater content of adipocyte FA [fatty acid] storage factors. It is possible that the upregulation in proteins associated with FA [fatty acid] storage capacity in postmenopausal women contributes to the decrease in postprandial total fat oxidation. Whether the differences in FA [fatty acid] storage between premenopausal and postmenopausal women are attributable to the effects of estrogen or the combination of estrogen, progesterone, and other factors, such as changing insulin concentrations, remains to be elucidated.

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  • Women who took conjugated equine estrogen had more than twice the risk of developing benign proliferative breast disease. (2008) www.sciencedaily.com
    Hormones Breast Cancer Estrogen Menopause

    From the article:

    In the Women’s Health Initiative study, 10,739 postmenopausal women with hysterectomy were assigned to either conjugated equine estrogen or a placebo. Previous analyses did not show an increase in breast cancer incidence in the women who took estrogen alone after a median follow-up of seven years.

    To determine whether the hormone increases the risk of benign proliferative breast disease [condition that is associated with increased risk of breast cancer], Tom Rohan, M.D., Ph.D., of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York and colleagues identified and examined non-cancerous breast biopsies in each of the Women’s Health Initiative trial arms.

    A total of 232 cases of benign proliferative breast disease were identified, with 155 cases among the women who took estrogen supplements and 77 in the placebo group. The risk of developing benign disease increased by more than two-fold for women taking conjugated equine estrogen, compared with those taking a placebo.

    […]

    Although the women taking conjugated equine estrogen have not yet shown a significant increased risk of breast cancer in the Women’s Health Initiative study, if this hypothesis holds true, they might show increased risk later. Ongoing follow up of the study participants may help to resolve this issue.

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  • Commercial phytoestrogen supplements containing genistein-like soy isoflavones significantly reduced bone loss by up to 9%. (2009) www.sciencedaily.com
    Hormones Estrogen Bone Polyphenol Menopause

    Plant-based estrogen supplements aren’t as effective at maintaining bone health as claimed.

    Plant-derived estrogen-like compounds found in dietary supplements are not as effective at reducing bone loss as claimed, a 2009 study showed. When compared to conventional therapies such as hormones or anti-osteoporosis drugs, the plant-based treatments were roughly four to five times less effective at reducing bone loss.

    Over a period of 50 days, 11 postmenopausal women received six different treatments: soy cotyledon (the first leaves to appear on the plant), soy germ, kudzu (a plant used in traditional and folk medicine), red clover, risedronate (a drug used to treat osteoporosis), and estrogen combined with progesterone. Researchers measured the women’s bone loss after each treatment.

    They found that the different treatments reduced bone loss to varying degrees: estrogen combined with progesterone, 24 percent; risedronate, 22 percent; soy cotyledon, 9 percent; soy germ, 5 percent. Red clover and kudzu had only marginal effects on reducing bone loss. Bone loss is a common feature of aging, especially among post-menopausal women.

    Estrogen preserves bone health and is commonly prescribed as a treatment for women with osteoporosis. However, estrogen therapies and many common anti-osteoporosis drugs carry health risks. Plant-derived estrogen-like compounds, often referred to as phytoestrogens, are often touted as viable alternatives to conventional therapies.

    This study demonstrates that plant-based therapies are less effective at reducing bone loss than hormonal or pharmaceutical therapies. They also underscore the importance of building bone mass in early life. Resistance exercise has been shown to preserve and even increase bone mass in postmenopausal women. Learn more about the effects of resistance training on bone health in this episode featuring Dr. Brad Schoenfeld.

    Read more
  • Oral, but not topical, estrogen therapy for menopausal women may be associated with an increased risk of complicated gallstone disease. (2013) www.sciencedaily.com
    Hormones Estrogen Menopause

    From the article:

    A large study of 70 928 menopausal women in France between 1992 and 2008 looked at whether hormone therapy increased the risk of gallbladder surgery (cholecystectomy) for complications of gallstones. In France, hormonal therapy is usually administered topically rather than orally. North America and the United Kingdom prefer oral hormone therapies.

    “In this large French prospective cohort study, we found that the risk of cholecystectomy was increased among women exposed to oral estrogen regiments for menopausal hormone therapy, especially oral regimens without progestagen,” writes Dr. Antoine Racine, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (INSERM) and Université Paris Sud, with coauthors. “Other types of menopausal hormone therapy [skin patches or gels] were not associated with an increased risk of cholecystectomy.”

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  • Estrogen therapy was less memory-enhancing in mice raised in a stimulating environment than in mice raised in non-stimulating environments. (2004) www.sciencedaily.com
    Hormones Memory Estrogen Menopause

    From the article:

    “We saw no beneficial effect of estrogen in the animals in cognitively and physically stimulating environments (also known as enriched environments),” said Karyn Frick, assistant professor of psychology and principal investigator on the study. “This fits in nicely with human data and might help to explain why studies of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) do not show beneficial effects for all women. Most studies of HRT use very well-educated women. These results might spur researchers to include a broader population with a greater variation in education and socioeconomic status.”

    […]

    “Animals [that had their ovaries removed to simulate menopause] raised in standard conditions showed significant spatial and object memory improvement when treated with a high dose of estrogen, whereas memory in animals in the enriched environment were unaffected or impaired by estrogen treatment,” Frick said. “Among mice not treated with estrogen, enrichment treatment alone significantly improved spatial memory. The behavioral changes were also associated with alterations in a part of the brain critical for memory. These data suggest that estrogen benefits mice raised in un-stimulating environments more than those raised in cognitively and physically stimulating environments.”

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  • Improved hippocampal estrogen reception sharpened spatial learning in estrogen receptor-α knockout mice with low estrogen levels. (2008) www.sciencedaily.com
    Hormones Memory Estrogen Menopause

    From the article:

    Changes in the estrogen receptor have been associated with age-related memory deficits and an increased incidence of Alzheimer’s disease among women In addition, previous studies have shown estrogen replacement may improve cognition in postmenopausal women and younger women with low estrogen levels. Estrogen also appears to protect against Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

    […]

    The mice had unusually low levels of estrogen because their ovaries were removed at an early age. However, scientists were still able to rescue learning ability by delivering the correct gene to produce estrogen receptor-alpha directly to the hippocampus.

    Mice that lacked the estrogen receptor showed poor ability to locate a platform hidden in a small swimming tank over a training period of several days. After receiving the gene, the mice learned to locate the platform in two days of training.

    […]

    Recordings made from the brain tissue of treated mice showed signals were strongly communicated across the gaps, or synapses, between hippocampal cells, similar to what would happen with estrogen replacement.

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  • Estrogen may reduce high-fat diet-induced visceral fat accumulation by decreasing the expression of a vitamin A-converting enzyme - mouse study.(2012) www.sciencedaily.com
    Hormones Fat Estrogen Vitamin A Weight Loss Visceral Fat Menopause

    From the article:

    The hormonal effect seen in these mice relates at least in part to how the female body processes vitamin A, a nutrient that is converted into a variety of compounds. These include a molecule that supports the burning of fat for energy, as well as retinoic acid, the hormone in this study that leads to the formation of visceral fat. The scientists showed that a high-fat diet functions as a switching mechanism that breaks down the fat-burning molecule and leads to activation of the enzyme and production of retinoic acid, ending in the development of visceral fat.

    A year ago, Ziouzenkova’s lab identified the one of these enzymes that relates to fat accumulation: Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1, or Aldh1a1. In the current study, she and colleagues conducted numerous experiments in mice to track the events that followed activation of this enzyme.

    The researchers compared normal mice with genetically altered mice lacking the enzyme over almost a year of eating a high-fat diet. Male and female normal mice gained weight on the high-fat diet, as expected, though the females developed more visceral fat that surrounds the organs than did males, a trend also seen in humans as the result of eating excess fat. (In contrast, on a regular diet, men are more likely than women to form abdominal fat.) Both sexes of mice developed peripheral subcutaneous fat, which lies just under the skin and has some benefits.

    In mice without the enzyme, however, the males developed some fat but females remained lean, and this occurred even when females ate more food than males. The researchers determined that without Aldh1a1, the females were not producing retinoic acid, and that protected them from producing visceral fat. Meanwhile, males retained the ability to produce retinoic acid.

    The scientists then analyzed the proteins contained in fat tissue in male and female mice lacking the enzyme, and saw that only the females' fat cells contained high levels of a protein that releases fat from fat cells to support fat burning. This release led to production of another protein that converts fat to heat, essentially burning the fat, in the form of lipids, away.

    “Without production of the hormone retinoic acid, females are burning fat and expending the energy in the form of heat. That’s why they stay very lean,” Ziouzenkova said. “And this process was specifically affecting visceral fat.”

    The researchers surgically removed the ovaries of mice to test whether estrogen could be related to visceral fat production in females. As soon as the animals became menopausal and weren’t producing estrogen, they began to produce retinoic acid, which led to visceral fat formation.

    “Estrogen was sufficient to protect female mice from both hormonal and, partially, diet-induced obesity. This means estrogen is suppressing activation of the obesity-inducing hormone, and as soon as we lose this estrogen during menopause, the visceral fat starts to grow,” said Ziouzenkova, also an investigator in Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center.

    Using another mouse model that allowed researchers to measure hormone production specifically, the researchers observed that female mice on a regular diet barely produced retinoic acid. However, females on a high-fat diet produced high levels of the hormone and, in turn, showed a nine-fold increase in visceral fat compared to visceral fat developed by males on a high-fat diet. This was the final determinant that the high-fat diet triggers this cascade of events ending in visceral fat formation.

    Because the human fat tissue samples the researchers analyzed also showed elevated levels of Aldh1a1 in cells extracted from tissue in obese women, “it could be that what we show about this hormone’s importance to visceral obesity in mice is also true for humans,” Ziouzenkova said.

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  • Long-term estrogen treatment reduced androgen levels in female monkeys by up to 53% and increased cortisol levels. (2004) www.sciencedaily.com
    Hormones Testosterone Estrogen Polyphenol Menopause

    From the article:

    “Our findings suggest that it might be important for women taking estrogen after menopause to also take androgen supplements – which can include testosterone,”

    […]

    Half of the monkeys were given oral contraceptives, which contain estrogen, in their diets for 26 months. All animals then had their ovaries removed to make them menopausal.

    For the next three years, the animals were divided into three groups based on diet. One group ate soy that didn’t contain isoflavones, which are natural plant estrogens; one group ate soy with the isoflavones intact, and one group’s diet was soy without isoflavones and Premarin [conjugated estrogen], or estrogen therapy, added.

    […]

    The researchers measured levels of the major androgens, which include dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), androstenedione (A4), and testosterone. Monkeys who took the oral contraceptives before menopause had DHEA-S levels that were 27 percent lower than the monkeys who didn’t take contraceptives. Levels of A4 were 53 percent lower, and levels of testosterone were 50 percent lower. These effects did not continue into menopause.

    In the postmenopausal phase of the study, treatment with soy plus Premarin resulted in DHEA-S levels that were 29 percent lower than the monkeys who ate soy without isoflavones (control group) and 35 percent lower than the group eating soy with isoflavones. Total levels of testosterone were 52 percent lower than the control group and 41 percent lower than the group eating soy with isoflavones.

    The researchers had suspected that the plant estrogens would also suppress androgen production. While this didn’t prove true, they did find that these monkeys had smaller adrenal glands than monkeys that didn’t consume the isoflavones.

    The adrenal gland, located near the kidneys, uses cholesterol to make the androgen hormones and to make cortisol, a hormone associated with high levels of stress. The researchers found that while estrogen treatment lowered levels of androgen hormones, levels of cortisol increased.

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  • Estrogen may improve memory and promote neuron repair and function, while progesterone alone may adversely affect memory, rodent studies suggest(2004) www.sciencedaily.com
    Alzheimer's Hormones Memory Estrogen Neurons Menopause

    From the article:

    Cyclic administration of estrogen might be inferior to continuous or no administration in terms of improving memory functions.

    Researchers removed the ovaries of 32 middle-aged mice before starting them on various courses of HT lasting three months. A continuous group received estrogen injections daily, a cyclical group was administered estrogen every four days, and a control group received daily injections with no estrogen.

    After three months, the mice underwent a variety of cognitive tests. […] Mice were tested every day for two weeks for both spatial reference memory (long-term memory for information that did not change during the test session) and working memory (short-term memory for information that changed in each trial).

    Mice on the cyclical regimen made more reference and working memory errors than control mice. The cyclical group also made more reference memory errors than mice receiving continuous estrogen.

    Another test focused on object recognition, a type of nonspatial memory. […] Because mice have a natural tendency to explore novel objects, mice with good memory for the original objects should spend more time examining the new object. Again, mice in the control and continuous groups outperformed the cyclical HT mice.

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    Estrogen may promote neuron repair and improve neuronal function.

    Other researchers studied the effects of continuous versus no administration of HT. Investigators removed the ovaries of mice aged 8 to 12 weeks and either treated them with continuous estrogen for 47 days or did not treat them with estrogen. Researchers then sacrificed the mice at different time periods after estrogen exposure (at 5, 14, 28, and 47 day intervals) and examined them for the production of the proteins associated with neuron repair and the formation of contacts between neurons.

    […]

    After five days on estrogen, the estrogen-treated mice produced more of the proteins important for repair and neuronal function. However, with prolonged, continuous estrogen treatment, this effect diminished, and by day 47 the estrogen-treated mice were similar to the non-estrogen-treated mice in levels of the repair proteins. In addition, at the end of the experiment, mice that did not receive estrogen showed an elevation of a brain protein associated with the negative aspects of brain aging, while estrogen-treated mice did not.

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    Progesterone may be detrimental to learning and increase short-term memory deficits in aged rats.

    Thirty rats were used in the study. Ten rats kept their ovaries, and twenty rats had their ovaries removed. The ovariectomized rats were then divided into two groups: those receiving progesterone and a control group that did not receive progesterone.

    As in the Yale study, a water maze was used to test working and reference memory. The maze difficulty was changed at increasing rates, forcing the rats to remember greater amounts of information. The rats receiving progesterone exhibited deficiencies in learning and remembering the maze. In addition, rats treated with progesterone also showed problems remembering many items of information, while untreated rats were able to successfully remember the items.

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    Progesterone may inhibit neuroprotective effects of estrogen

    In the first experiment, levels of beta-amyloid protein were evaluated after a six-week period of hormone treatment. Higher levels of beta-amyloid protein were observed in the hormone-depleted rats compared with control animals. The group receiving estrogen did not experience an increase in levels of beta-amyloid. For the rats receiving the combination of estrogen and progesterone, although progesterone failed to decrease beta-amyloid levels, it did not alter the ability of the estrogen treatment to reduce beta-amyloid levels.

    In the second study, rats were treated with a mild dose of neurotoxin after two weeks of hormone treatment. The hormone-depleted rats experienced the greatest amount of neuronal death. In estrogen-treated rats a protective effective against neuronal death was observed, while rats treated with estrogen and progesterone in combination did exhibit neuronal death, suggesting that progesterone inhibited the neuroprotective action of estrogen in this model.

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  • Menopausal estrogen loss may be associated with lumbar disc degeneration and back pain, but hormone therapy may be beneficial for disc height. (2017) www.sciencedaily.com
    Hormones Estrogen Menopause

    From the article:

    Available evidence strongly supports the involvement of estrogen deficiency in disc degeneration, as well as the benefits of hormone therapy (HT) on the total lumbar disc height in postmenopausal women. Multiple studies have previously investigated the association between menopause and lumbar disc degeneration; however, the study detailed in the article “Association between menopause and lumbar disc degeneration: an MRI study of 1,566 women and 1,382 men” is the first known to include a portion of age-matched men as a comparison group.

    Study results document how men and women fare with regard to disc degeneration, as measured by magnetic resonance imaging, as they age. Whereas young, age-matched men were more susceptible to disc degeneration than premenopausal women were, postmenopausal women had a significant tendency to develop more severe disc degeneration than age-matched men compared with premenopausal and perimenopausal women. The most dramatic difference was seen in the first 15 years after menopause onset, although the authors note that further studies are needed to determine whether age or menopause plays a more important role in the progression of disc degeneration in the lumbar spine.

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  • Estradiol may heighten the sensitivity of sound-processing neurons and activate genes that instruct the brain to lay down memories of sounds. (2009) www.sciencedaily.com
    Brain Hormones Memory Estrogen Hearing Neurons Menopause

    From the article:

    Previous studies have hinted at a connection between estrogen and hearing in women who have low estrogen, such as often occurs after menopause, says Pinaud. No one understood, however, that estrogen was playing such a direct role in determining auditory functions in the brain, he says. “Now it is clear that estrogen is a key molecule carrying brain signals, and that the right balance of hormone levels in men and women is important for reasons beyond its role as a sex hormone,” says Pinaud.

    Pinaud, along with Liisa Tremere, a research assistant professor of brain and cognitive sciences, and Jin Jeong, a postdoctoral fellow in Pinaud’s laboratory, demonstrated that increasing estrogen levels in brain regions that process auditory information caused heightened sensitivity of sound-processing neurons, which encoded more complex and subtle features of the sound stimulus. Perhaps more surprising, says Pinaud, is that by blocking either the actions of estrogen directly, or preventing brain cells from producing estrogen within auditory centers, the signaling that is necessary for the brain to process sounds essentially shuts down. Pinaud’s team also shows that estrogen is required to activate genes that instruct the brain to lay down memories of those sounds.

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  • The risk of developing ovarian cancer increased by 220% in postmenopausal women who used estrogen therapy for 20 or more years. (2002) www.sciencedaily.com
    Cancer Hormones Estrogen Menopause

    From the article:

    The scientists followed 44,241 women for approximately 20 years. Compared to postmenopausal women not using hormone replacement therapy, users of estrogen-only therapy had a 60 percent greater risk of developing ovarian cancer. The risk increased with length of estrogen use. The women, who were followed from 1979 to 1998, were former participants in the Breast Cancer Detection Demonstration Project, a mammography screening program conducted between 1973 and 1980.

    “The main finding of our study was that postmenopausal women who used estrogen replacement therapy for 10 or more years were at significantly higher risk of developing ovarian cancer than women who never used hormone replacement therapy,” said James V. Lacey, Jr., Ph.D., lead author of the study from NCI’s Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics.

    The relative risk for 10 to 19 years of use was 1.8, which translates to an 80 percent higher risk than non-users, and increased to 3.2 (a 220 percent higher risk than non-users) for women who took estrogen for 20 or more years.

    […]

    Two recent large studies found a link between hormone use and ovarian cancer. A large prospective study published last year (JAMA 2001;285:1460-1465) showed that postmenopausal estrogen use for 10 or more years was associated with increased risk of ovarian cancer mortality, and a recent Swedish study (J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 2002;94:497-504) reported that estrogen use alone and estrogen-progestin used sequentially (progestin used on average 10 days/month) may be associated with an increased risk for ovarian cancer. In contrast, estrogen-progestin used continuously (progestin used on average 28 days/month) seemed to confer no increased ovarian cancer risk.

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  • High vitamin K1 intake cuts hip fracture hospitalizations by nearly half. pubs.rsc.org
    Vitamin D Aging Vitamin K Menopause

    Women with the highest vitamin K1 intake were nearly half as likely to require long-term hospitalization due to hip fracture compared to women with the lowest intake, a recent study shows. Those with higher vitamin K1 intake were nearly one-third less likely to experience any kind of fracture that required hospitalization.

    Researchers tracked hip fractures among more than 1,300 older women (70 years and older) living in Australia for about 15 years. They also assessed the women’s vitamin K1 intake using food frequency questionnaires and measured their blood vitamin D concentrations.

    They found that nearly 11 percent of the women experienced a hip fracture and 28 percent experienced any type of fracture that required hospitalization during the study period. When compared to women with the lowest vitamin K1 intake, those with the highest intake were 49 percent less likely to require hospitalization due to hip fracture and were 31 percent less like to require hospitalization due to any type of fracture. This was true regardless of the women’s vitamin D status.

    Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that participates in blood clotting, bone metabolism, prevention of blood vessel mineralization, and regulation of various cellular functions. The body has limited vitamin K storage capacity, so the body recycles it in a vitamin K redox cycle and reuses it multiple times. Naturally occurring forms of vitamin K include phylloquinone (vitamin K1) and a family of molecules called menaquinones (vitamin K2). Vitamin K1 is synthesized by plants and is the major form of vitamin K in the diet.

    The findings from this study suggest that vitamin K1 is essential for bone health in older women and underscore the importance of adequate dietary intake of this essential nutrient. The study investigators noted that just one or two servings of vitamin K1-rich foods daily were sufficient to achieve levels high enough to protect against fracture. Sources of vitamin K1 include kale, Swiss chard, spinach, and other green leafy vegetables.

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  • Estradiol given to women with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease improved their memory by up to 35% and attention skills by 20%. (2001) www.sciencedaily.com
    Alzheimer's Hormones Memory Estrogen Menopause

    From the article:

    Asthana noted differences between the current study and those that found no memory-enhancing effect. Asthana’s study used estradiol, a type of estrogen that has been shown to have an effect on the brain. Other studies used a compound that contains low doses of estradiol along with other forms of estrogen that have not been proven to have an effect on the brain, he said. Also, the largest study finding no effect included only women who had hysterectomies. “We don’t know enough yet about how a hysterectomy versus no hysterectomy can affect the brain’s response to estrogen,” he said.

    In the current study, the women were given a variety of tests to measure their attention skills, recent verbal memory, recent visual memory and semantic memory, or the ability to name common items from pictures.

    The women receiving estrogen improved their performance on an attention test by 20 percent more than the women receiving a placebo. Those receiving estrogen also improved on some of the tests of recent verbal and visual memory by 35 and 30 percent more than those receiving a placebo. On the test of semantic memory, those taking estrogen performed 10 percent better than those taking a placebo.

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  • Age-related depletion of nitric oxide synthase cofactors may change the antihypertensive effect of estrogen into a prohypertensive effect. (2005) www.sciencedaily.com
    Hormones Estrogen Nitric Oxide Blood Pressure Oxidative Stress Cardiovascular Menopause

    From the article:

    They were studying estrogen’s effects on blood vessels, focusing on its impact on the smooth muscle cells that allow blood vessels to contract, thereby regulating blood pressure and blood flow. These researchers found that estrogen targets nitric oxide synthase 1, one of three versions of the enzyme that makes the powerful vasodilator, nitric oxide.

    “What we were finding is that estrogen seems to be what you might call a natural nitroglycerin; nitroglycerin also works by making nitric oxide,” Dr. White says.

    Then they tried to block estrogen’s activity by blocking nitric oxide. “What surprised the heck out of me was after we blocked nitric oxide production and added estrogen, we got a contraction,” says Dr. White. “Estrogen now had turned into a constrictor agent, an agent that would increase blood pressure.”

    They looked further and found that normal aging decreases levels of the cofactors L-arginine and tetrahydrobiopterin – both critical to nitric oxide synthase’s production of nitric oxide.

    […]

    “Under normal conditions, such as a pre-menopausal woman, this enzyme, nitric oxide synthase, makes nitric oxide,” says Dr. White. “But if you block the production of nitric oxide, this nitric oxide synthase now has a secondary product that normally isn’t made in an appreciable form. Now it makes a compound called superoxide. It’s an oxidant, and oxidation is bad in general. It causes a lot of cellular damage. But what we also have found is that now, instead of causing relaxation, it causes constriction. So you completely flip-flop the response here.

    “One of the things this means is that menopause is a good thing, a sort of revolutionary endocrinology idea,” says Dr. White.

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  • Perimenopausal estradiol fluctuations may increase women's sensitivity to social rejection and vulnerability to developing depressive symptoms. (2015) www.sciencedaily.com
    Hormones Depression Stress Mental Health Estrogen Menopause

    From the article:

    In addition, the menopausal transition and early postmenopausal period are times of particularly increased vulnerability to depression for women, with rates of MDD [major depressive disorder] and clinical elevations in depressive symptoms doubling or even tripling compared to premenopausal and late postmenopausal rates. A substantial proportion of women–between 26% and 33%–will develop clinically significant depressive symptoms within the context of perimenopausal hormonal flux.

    The common physiological change occurring during the menopausal transition is extreme variability in estradiol concentrations, thus prompting the 12-month placebo-controlled randomized trial evaluating the mood and cardiovascular benefits of transdermal estradiol in perimenopausal women. The findings from the placebo group found that, in general, estradiol variability led to the development of depressive symptoms, as well as greater anger/irritability and feelings of rejection. More specifically, the findings suggest that perimenopausal estradiol fluctuation may increase women’s sensitivity to social rejection, and when this sensitivity is combined with psycho-social stressors such as divorce or bereavement, women are particularly vulnerable to developing clinically significant depressive symptoms. Of note, however, is that the effect of estradiol variability on mood is not the same in all women and, if a severe life stress did not occur, estradiol variability did not lead to depression. Very severe life stresses were defined and included divorce or separation, serious illness of a close relative or friend, significant current financial issues, physical or sexual abuse or assault, significant arrest of self or loved one.

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  • Estrogen may exert inhibitory effects on immune cells, leading to reduced vascular inflammation and protection against cardiovascular disease. (2011) www.sciencedaily.com
    Hormones Heart Disease Immune System Estrogen Cardiovascular Menopause

    From the article:

    The results could help explain why cardiovascular disease rates tend to be higher in men and why they soar in women after the menopause.

    The researchers compared white blood cells from men and pre-menopausal women blood donors. They found that cells from premenopausal women have much higher levels of protein called annexin-A1 on the surface of their white blood cells.

    The scientists also found that annexin-A1 and estrogen levels were strongly linked throughout the menstrual cycle.

    White blood cells play a vital role in protecting the body from infections. When they are activated they stick to the walls of blood vessels. This process normally helps the cells to tackle infection but if it happens too much, it can lead to blood vessel damage, which in turn can lead to cardiovascular disease. However, when annexin-A1 is on the surface of these white blood cells, it prevents them from sticking to the blood vessel wall.

    The new research shows that estrogen can move annexin-A1 from inside the white blood cell, where it is normally stored, to the surface of the cells, thereby preventing the cells from sticking to blood vessel walls and causing vascular damage. This may have important implications in cardiovascular disease.

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  • Estrogen protected rats against heart attack-related depression by preventing the production of inflammation-causing chemicals in the brain. (2018) www.sciencedaily.com
    Hormones Heart Disease Depression Estrogen Menopause

    From the article:

    Adult female rats without ovaries – mimicking menopause – were compared to adult males and adult females with ovaries. Half of the “menopausal” rats received estrogen supplements while the other half did not. Sex-matched rats without heart failure served as controls. The animals were given several standardized tests to assess depression-like behavior, learning, memory and the ability to experience pleasure. The researchers also took blood samples to measure inflammation levels in the brain (neuroinflammation).

    The male rats, but not the female rats, with heart failure showed signs of depression and brain inflammation compared to their controls. In contrast, the menopausal females displayed higher rates of depression-like behavior than all of the males studied. However, the group receiving estrogen showed no depression – their levels were on par with the control females with ovaries – and no increase in inflammation in brain areas involved in mood and pleasure.

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  • Estradiol administered to the amygdala of a menopause rat model prevented weight and abdominal fat gain and improved glucose tolerance. (2017) www.sciencedaily.com
    Brain Hormones Fat Estrogen Blood Sugar Weight Loss Visceral Fat Menopause

    From the article:

    “We know as women age and enter into menopause, they tend to gain body weight and body fat, particularly in the abdominal or ‘belly’ area. Excess abdominal fat greatly increases risk for cardio-metabolic diseases,” says Solomon. “While there are likely many factors that are associated with these risks in menopausal women, estrogen loss is associated with body weight and fat gain during menopause. In fact, estrogen treatment can offset this weight gain in many women.”

    The medial amygdala (MeA) is a region of the brain that helps regulate body weight and contains an abundance of estrogen receptors (molecules that respond to estrogen). The researchers used an experimental model in rats, which involves removing the ovaries to mimic the hormonal changes of menopause. They targeted estrogen replacement directly in the MeA and found that it prevented weight and abdominal fat gain and improved glucose tolerance, compared to rats in a placebo group. This suggests that the MeA is important in the metabolic health of menopausal females and may be a useful target for treatment.

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  • Estrogen therapy initiated around the onset of menopause may protect the hippocampus from shrinking, thereby reducing the risk of Alzheimer's. (2016) www.sciencedaily.com
    Brain Alzheimer's Hormones Estrogen Dementia Menopause

    From the article:

    A sample of 80 women who had used estrogen supplements through menopause was compared with 80 women who had never used estrogen supplements. All had participated in the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT), a general population-based study in mid-Norway.

    […]

    MRIs of the brains of the women in the study showed that those who had taken estrogen supplements throughout menopause had a larger hippocampus. The hippocampus is one of the most important structures for memory and sense of place, and is one of the structures that is affected early in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

    “We also examined the shape of the hippocampus and found that areas where hormone therapy had the greatest effect are the same areas that are affected by Alzheimer’s disease in its early stages,” says Pintzka.

    Other studies have shown that women who start estrogen supplements several years after menopause do not benefit from the same positive effect on the hippocampus.

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  • Reproductive events related to shorter cumulative endogenous estrogen exposure in women may be associated with higher dementia risk. (2022) www.sciencedaily.com
    Hormones Pregnancy Estrogen Dementia Menopause

    From the article:

    […] used data from the UK Biobank to examine the risk of all cause dementia and reproductive factors in 273,240 women as well as the number of children in those women and in 228,965 men.

    After controlling for age, socioeconomic status, smoking, body mass index (BMI), and other elements, certain events related to shorter cumulative exposure to internally produced estrogen – such as older than average age at first period, younger than average age at menopause, and having a hysterectomy – were associated with higher dementia risk.

    Pregnancy, even aborted pregnancy, longer reproductive span, older age at menopause, and use of contraceptive pills were associated with a lower risk of all-cause dementia.

    For both men and women, compared with having two children, having no children or four or more were apparently associated with greater risk of dementia.

    The study has limitations including the retrospective reporting on reproductive factors that can be subject to bias, and the fact that UK Biobank is a relatively healthy cohort of affluent people of white British ancestry so may not be representative of a broader population.

    Gong adds, “Reproductive events related to shorter exposure to endogenous estrogen in women were associated with higher dementia risk, and these findings highlight the vulnerability in dementia risk pertaining to women. However, the similar association between the number of children and dementia risk observed for women and men indicates that the risk variation in women may be more related to social and behavioural factors in parenthood, rather than biological factors involved in childbearing.”

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  • Osteoporosis therapy consisting of estrogen, vitamin D and calcium reduced prevalence of severe periodontitis in postmenopausal women by 44%. (2017) www.sciencedaily.com
    Vitamin D Hormones Inflammation Estrogen Calcium Menopause

    From the article:

    In the Menopause article “Association between osteoporosis treatment and severe periodontitis in postmenopausal women,” 492 postmenopausal Brazilian women aged 50 to 87 years, 113 in osteoporosis treatment and 379 not treated, were evaluated to determine whether osteoporosis treatment could help increase the bone mineral density in their jaws and, subsequently, improve overall oral health.

    The study found that the rate of occurrence of severe periodontitis was 44% lower in the postmenopausal osteoporosis-treatment group than in the untreated group. Treatment consisted of systemic estrogen alone or estrogen plus progestin, as well as calcium and vitamin D supplements, for a minimum of six months.

    “Osteoporosis can occur throughout the body, including the jaw, and lead to an increased risk of periodontal disease,” says Dr. JoAnn Pinkerton, NAMS executive director.

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  • Unlike transdermal estrogen therapy, oral use may increase the risk of blood clots almost threefold. (2016) www.sciencedaily.com
    Hormones Estrogen Cardiovascular Menopause

    From the article:

    This large population study of more than 800 Swedish women who had VTEs and nearly 900 age-matched controls who took no hormones is helping answer those questions.

    In this study, risk of having VTE [venous thromboembolism] was almost twofold higher (OR 1.72) in the women who took hormones than in those who took no hormones, which is similar to other studies, including the WHI. What’s more, women who took combined estrogen-progestogen therapy had nearly three times the VTE risk of those who took no hormones. Women who took estrogen only (because they had had hysterectomies and didn’t need a progestogen) had a much lower overall increase in their odds of VTE–a little less than one and half times higher (OR 1.31) compared with those who took no hormones. Women using combined estrogen-progestogen had a twofold higher risk of VTE than those taking estrogen only.

    However, this study had good news about the way estrogen is delivered. There was no increased risk of VTE in this study for women who used transdermal estrogen (such as patches), either alone or in combination with a progestogen. And women who used vaginal estrogen alone to ease vaginal dryness and other symptoms of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) also had no increased risk of VTE. Many menopause experts don’t expect vaginal estrogen to raise the risk because absorption into the bloodstream is small and results in levels similar to those in postmenopausal women who use no hormones. But studies on this question have been rare, noted the authors, so this finding is a big help for decision making.

    Whether the type of progestogen makes a difference in risk has also been an important question for women and clinicians, and there haven’t been many studies on this. Some imply that the VTE risk is higher with medroxyprogesterone acetate (the progestogen used in the WHI) than with norgestrel. But this study didn’t show any statistically significant difference in risk between the two synthetic progestins. What it did show was that having a uterus and taking both oral estrogen and a synthetic progestin increased the risk of VTE the most, particularly compared with estrogen only.

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  • Long-term postmenopausal estrogen therapy may increase kidney damage risk and adversely affect women with abnormal kidney function - rat study. (2016) www.sciencedaily.com
    Hormones Estrogen Menopause

    From the article:

    The harmful effect of high blood pressure on the blood vessels is one cause of kidney damage. Estrogen seems to protect against high blood pressure – fewer premenopausal women have high blood pressure than men of the same age – but after menopause, these benefits appear to diminish. Researchers from Tulane University in New Orleans studied a breed of rats that mimic the gender-specific blood pressure differences observed in humans to see if long-term hormone treatment negatively affects the kidneys.

    The research team studied three groups of middle-aged rats without ovaries, which simulates the low estrogen environment of menopause. One group (“short-term”) was given a short course of estrogen. A second group (“long-term”) received a longer regimen of estrogen. The estrogen groups were compared to a control group that did not receive hormones.

    Researchers found that after the hormone treatments, the long-term group had more damage to the tiny tubes that collect and carry urine than the short-term and control groups. The rate at which the kidneys filtered blood decreased, and creatinine levels and protein in the urine (markers of impaired kidney function) increased in the rats receiving long-term estrogen. The long-term group showed more kidney damage in each marker than the short-term or control groups.

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  • Transdermal estrogen therapy modestly improved sexual function in early postmenopausal women. (2017) www.sciencedaily.com
    Hormones Sex Estrogen Menopause

    From the article:

    In the new article, Hugh S. Taylor, M.D., of the Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn., and his coauthors report on an ancillary study of a clinical trial that examined changes in sexual function in recently postmenopausal women. The ancillary study included 670 women given oral conjugated equine estrogens (o-CEE), transdermal 17β-estradiol (t-E2) or placebo.

    The women ranged in age from 42 to 58 and were within three years of their last menstrual period.

    […]

    – The transdermal treatment was associated with moderate improvement in the overall sexual function score across all time points compared with placebo; there was not a significant difference in overall sexual function score with oral estrogen treatment compared with placebo.

    – There was no difference in overall sexual function score between the oral and transdermal estrogen therapy on average across four years.

    – In specific areas of sexual function, the transdermal treatment was associated with an increase in average lubrication and decreased pain compared with placebo.

    – The proportion of women with low sexual function was lower after transdermal treatment compared with placebo; there was no significant reduction in the odds of low sexual function with oral estrogen therapy.

    The study has limitations including the restricted generalizability of its findings because the population of the clinical trial was predominantly white women with a higher educational background than the general population.

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  • Low-dose estrogen therapy reduced the prevalence of hot flashes from 44% to 4.2% and night sweats from 35% to 4.7% in postmenopausal women. (2016) www.sciencedaily.com
    Hormones Estrogen Menopause

    From the article:

    KEEPS was a multicenter clinical trial designed to compare effects of low-dose oral conjugated estrogens (CEE) with those of transdermal estradiol versus placebo on cardiovascular endpoints in recently postmenopausal women. Seven hundred twenty-seven women aged 42 to 58 years and within 3 years of their final menstrual period were randomized to receive oral conjugated estrogens (CEE) 0.45 mg (n = 230) or transdermal estradiol 50 μg (n = 225), both with micronized progesterone 200 mg for 12 days each month, or placebo (n = 275).

    All participants completed a menopause symptom checklist before randomization and again at 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 months. Menopause symptoms were self-assessed and included only current symptoms of hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, and irritability. Because of study dropout from screening to 48 months, 173, 170, and 211 women randomized to CEE, transdermal estradiol, and placebo, respectively, completed the end-of-study assessments.

    At baseline screening, moderate to severe hot flashes were reported by 44% of participants. By 6 months, moderate to severe hot flashes had decreased to 28.3% for those women randomized to placebo, 7.4% for those randomized to transdermal estradiol, and 4.2% for those randomized to CEE [oral conjugated estrogens]. Moderate to severe night sweats reported by 35% of participants at baseline decreased to 19% for placebo, 5.3% for transdermal estradiol, and 4.7% for CEE at 6 months. This initial magnitude of symptom reduction was maintained throughout the entire study in all treatment groups.

    Insomnia and irritability decreased from baseline to 6 months after randomization in all groups. There was an intermittent reduction in insomnia in both active treatment arms versus placebo, with CEE being more effective than placebo at 36 and 48 months and transdermal estradiol being more effective than placebo at 48 months. Neither hormone treatment significantly affected irritability compared with placebo.

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  • Study in mice suggests that overexpression of estrogen receptor 1 gene can impact post-menopausal breast cancer risk and prevention strategies. (2022) www.sciencedaily.com
    Hormones Breast Cancer Genetics Estrogen Menopause

    From the article:

    In a study using a first-of-its kind mouse model of aging that mimics breast cancer development in estrogen receptor-positive post-menopausal women, investigators at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and colleagues have determined that over-expression, or switching on of the Esr1 gene, could lead to elevated risk of developing estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer in older women.

    In a second study from the same research lab, investigators found that in the specially bred mice given anti-hormonal drugs (e.g., tamoxifen and letrozole) similar to those currently used by women to lower their breast cancer risk, the elevated risk of developing breast cancer due to over-expression of Esr1 could be lowered or reversed.

    […]

    “If validated in human studies, detection of over-expression of Esr1-related genes could be a new signature to add to current prognostic tools that would help post-menopausal women at risk for estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer decide what their best risk reduction strategy might be.”

    […]

    The investigators were guided in their study by the use of the PAM50 (Prediction Analysis of Microarray 50) prognostic tool. The tool reads a sample of the tumor and determines expression levels for a group of 50 genes. The scientists found that many genes related to proliferation of breast cancer cells in the PAM50 tool were significantly expressed only in Esr1 mice and this correlated with development of the same type of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancers that develop in humans, thereby giving them new evidence of which other genes might be implicated in inducing breast cancer in post-menopausal women. In current clinical practice, the results of the PAM50 test have helped predict the chance of metastasis for some ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancers.

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  • Resistance training reverses age-related muscle loss in older women. www.sciencedirect.com
    Exercise Aging Muscle Menopause

    Resistance exercise reduces symptoms of sarcopenia – age-related muscle loss – in older women, a new study has found. Women who engaged in resistance training saw improvements in muscle size, strength, and function.

    Researchers studied the effects of resistance training in 38 women who were 70 years of age or older. About half of the women engaged in a supervised resistance training program for six months, while the other half did not. The researchers assessed the women’s body composition, strength, and capacity to perform basic fitness tests.

    They found that half of the women who engaged in the resistance training experienced remission of their sarcopenia, demonstrated by increases in muscular mass, decreases in fat mass, and enhanced muscular strength and performance in their arms and legs. The women who trained also performed better on tests of leg function and strength as well as balance.

    Sarcopenia is an age-related condition characterized by a progressive loss of muscle mass and associated strength. Because the condition begins as early as one’s 30s, a person in their 70s may have lost as much as half of their muscle mass.

    This study demonstrates that resistance training rebuilds muscle mass in older women. Having sufficient muscle mass markedly reduces a person’s risk of dying prematurely, and actively challenging those muscles, through regular physical activity and exercise, may extend a person’s life by several years. Learn more in this clip featuring Dr. Stuart Phillips.

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  • Higher protein intake reduces the risk of hip fracture in women. www.clinicalnutritionjournal.com
    Aging Protein Menopause

    For every 25 grams of protein consumed per day – about the amount in a four-ounce serving of fish – the risk of hip fracture in underweight women drops by nearly half, a recent study has found. Drinking tea or coffee reduces the risk of hip fracture, too.

    Researchers tracked the health of more than 26,000 middle-aged women for about 22 years. The women provided information about the types and quantities of foods they ate on a regular basis.

    The researchers found that for every 25 grams of protein consumed per day, the women’s risk of experiencing a hip fracture decreased by 14 percent. However, when the researchers separated the women according to whether they were underweight, healthy weight, or overweight, they found that for every 25 grams of protein consumed per day, the risk of hip fracture for a woman who was underweight decreased by 45 percent.

    Other dietary components influenced hip fracture risk, too. For example, for every additional cup of tea or coffee the women consumed, their risk decreased by 4 percent. And although calcium and vitamin D play important roles in bone health, their consumption reduced hip fracture risk only in women who were underweight.

    These findings suggest that dietary protein protects against hip fractures, especially in women who are underweight. Learn more about the importance of dietary protein in this episode featuring Dr. Stuart Phillips.

    Read more
  • Higher protein intake reduces the risk of hip fracture in women.
    Aging Protein Menopause

    For every 25 grams of protein consumed per day – about the amount in a four-ounce serving of fish – the risk of hip fracture in underweight women drops by nearly half, a recent study has found. Drinking tea or coffee reduces the risk of hip fracture, too.

    Researchers tracked the health of more than 26,000 middle-aged women for about 22 years. The women provided information about the types and quantities of foods they ate on a regular basis.

    The researchers found that for every 25 grams of protein consumed per day, the women’s risk of experiencing a hip fracture decreased by 14 percent. However, when the researchers separated the women according to whether they were underweight, healthy weight, or overweight, they found that for every 25 grams of protein consumed per day, the risk of hip fracture for a woman who was underweight decreased by 45 percent.

    Other dietary components influenced hip fracture risk, too. For example, for every additional cup of tea or coffee the women consumed, their risk decreased by 4 percent. And although calcium and vitamin D play important roles in bone health, their consumption reduced hip fracture risk only in women who were underweight.

    These findings suggest that dietary protein protects against hip fractures, especially in women who are underweight. Learn more about the importance of dietary protein in this episode featuring Dr. Stuart Phillips.

    Read more
  • Long-term estrogen supplementation may affect gut microbiome composition and thus estrogen metabolism. (2018) www.sciencedaily.com
    Microbiome Hormones Estrogen Menopause

    From the article:

    “Our findings indicate that clinicians might be able to manipulate the gut biome through probiotics to change the half-life and properties of estrogens so that long-term users obtain the therapeutic benefits of estrogen-replacement therapy without increasing their risks of reproductive cancers,” said Madak-Erdogan, also the director of the Women’s Health, Hormones and Nutrition Lab at the U. of I.

    […]

    “We observed that both levels of fecal _GUS [B-glucuronidase] activity and glucuronic acid – a byproduct of estrogen metabolism – decreased after the mice were treated with conjugated estrogens and bazedoxifene_ [selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM)],” Madak-Erdogan said. “This supported our hypothesis that estrogen supplementation affects the gut microbiome composition and estrogen metabolism.

    “While the overall diversity of microbiota was not changed significantly, we found that the activities of several bacteria taxa were altered by the estrogen therapy,” Madak-Erdogan said. “The levels of several bacteria associated with GUS [B-glucuronidase] activity in the gut decreased, including levels of akkermansia,” a family of bacteria believed to have anti-inflammatory properties in humans.

    […]

    However, mice with higher levels of akkermansia in their fecal biome gained more weight, had larger livers and more estrogen metabolites in their systems, the researchers found.

    In examining the abundance of common bacterial families in the fecal microbiota, the researchers found higher levels of several microbes, including lactobacillus and streptococcus. Lactobacillus was shown to be associated with GUS activity in previous studies by other researchers while GUS was identified in a subspecies of streptococcus.

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  • Estrogen's effects on fat-mobilization promotes a pear shape in pre-menopausal women, but may promote abdominal accumulation after menopause. www.sciencedaily.com
    Exercise Obesity Hormones Fat Estrogen Menopause

    From the article:

    Gavin and her colleagues recruited 17 overweight-to-obese premenopausal women, all between the ages of 18 and 44 years old. […] Participants performed this [submaximal] exercise both by itself and while the [fat-mobilizing] drugs were being infused. To test the effects of estrogen, the researchers also performed each of these conditions while estrogen was also being slowly infused into participants' fat deposits.

    Results

    The researchers found that estrogen’s effects differed tremendously depending on the fat-mobilizing interventions themselves and where the fat deposit was located. For example, estrogen blunted fat breakdown in the abdomen if it was infused while a particular fat-mobilization drug called isoproterenol was also being infused, but it didn’t have this effect in the buttocks. When a second fat mobilizing drug was given along with the first while participants were at rest, fat breakdown didn’t change any further. However, when both drugs were injected together during exercise or when the volunteers exercised without the drugs, fat breakdown increased in the abdomen, but less so in the buttocks.

    Importance of the Findings

    These results suggest that estrogen has different effects within fat tissue depending on its location. Together, these effects could help maintain premenopausal women’s “pear” shape even in the face of exercise or other signals the body receives to break down fat. They could also help generate some new ideas on how estrogen in fat may influence why postmenopausal women tend to accumulate more fat in the abdomen.

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  • Estradiol may act as a regulator of muscle energy metabolism and muscle cell viability: loss of estrogen in menopause may promote sarcopenia www.sciencedaily.com
    Metabolism Hormones Estrogen Muscle Apoptosis Menopause

    From the article:

    The effects of estrogen on skeletal muscles are not yet well known. The study from the University of Jyväskylä discovered that estrogen acts as an upstream regulator for the energy metabolism and viability of muscle cells.

    […]

    “These findings help to understand why menopausal women’s muscles get smaller and their muscle strength diminishes,” Dr. Laakkonen explains. Skeletal muscle is important for whole-body metabolism. Therefore, these results are important when fighting against the elevated risk of metabolic diseases associated to aging.

    In total 24 pre- and postmenopausal women participated in this muscle research on middle-aged women.

    From the publication:

    The major canonical pathways found to be differentially regulated included mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative phosphorylation, glycolysis, and TCA-cycle, strong indicators for affected energy metabolism. The major biological processes predicted to be affected were related to cell death, apoptosis, and cell survival, as well as contractility of the muscle and glycolysis. Furthermore, E2 [17β-estradiol] was predicted to be an upstream regulator of these processes, which we confirmed by exposing myotubes to E2 in vitro.

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  • Estrogen may protect bone density by inducing osteocyte expression of the protein semaphorin-3A, mouse study suggests. (2019) www.sciencedaily.com
    Hormones Estrogen Bone Menopause

    From the article:

    Our laboratory recently discovered that bone matrix is maintained by a protein called Sema3A, which is secreted by osteocytes. This led us to suspect that there might be a mechanistic relationship between estrogen and Sema3A."

    Sema3A does indeed appear to be linked to estrogen: the researchers found that blood serum levels of the protein decrease in premenopausal women as they get older – and drop even further once women reach menopause. But how, at the biological level, are estrogen and Sema3A related? And what is Sema3A doing in bone tissue?

    […]

    “When we genetically removed Sema3A from the osteoblast lineage cells (including osteocytes) of mice, we found that intravenous estrogen no longer prevented bones from deteriorating after an ovariectomy,” lead author Mikihito Hayashi describes. “In addition, we found that Sema3A sets off a chain of signaling events that promote the survival of osteocytes in these mice. This suggests that Sema3A serves as a key mechanistic link between estrogen and bone maintenance.

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  • Estrogen may improve insulin sensitivity and suppress gluconeogenesis via Foxo1, mouse study suggests. (2019) www.sciencedaily.com
    Hormones Diabetes Estrogen Insulin Blood Sugar Menopause

    From the article:

    “Premenopausal women exhibit enhanced insulin sensitivity and reduced incidence of Type 2 diabetes compared with age-equivalent men,” he explained. “But this advantage disappears after menopause with disrupted glucose homeostasis, in part owing to a reduction in circulating estrogen.”

    […]

    “We wanted to understand the mechanism by which estrogen regulates gluconeogenesis by means of interaction with hepatic Foxo1,” he explained. “Foxo1 has an important role in the regulation of glucose production through insulin signaling. It is an important component of insulin-signaling cascades regulating cellular growth, differentiation and metabolism.”

    He said in both male and ovariectomized female control mice, a subcutaneous estrogen implant improved insulin sensitivity and suppressed gluconeogenesis. However, the estrogen had no effect on the liver-specific Foxo1 knockout mice of both sexes.

    “This suggests Foxo1 is required for estrogen to be effective in suppressing gluconeogenesis,” he said.

    “We further demonstrated that estrogen suppresses hepatic glucose production through activation of estrogen receptor signaling, which can be independent of insulin receptor substrates Irs1 and Irs2. This reveals an important mechanism for estrogen in the regulation of glucose homeostasis.”

    Guo said study results support the hypothesis that improvement of glucose homeostasis by estrogen is regulated by hepatic Foxo1-mediated gluconeogenesis rather than by promoting muscle glucose uptake.

    […]

    Guo also noted some foods, such as soybeans, contain a certain amount of phytoestrogens, which can function in a similar way to that of estrogen, regulating bodily glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity.

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  • Vitamin D and estradiol may synergistically help protect against metabolic syndrome. (2019) www.sciencedaily.com
    Vitamin D Hormones Cholesterol Estrogen Triglycerides Blood Pressure Blood Sugar Metabolic Syndrome Menopause

    From the article:

    Metabolic syndrome has emerged as a major public health concern, affecting 30% to 60% of postmenopausal women worldwide.

    […]

    The cross-sectional study included 616 postmenopausal women aged 49 to 86 years who were not taking estrogen and vitamin D/calcium supplements at the beginning of the trial. It concluded there was a positive correlation between vitamin D and estradiol.

    Specifically, higher vitamin D was associated with a favorable lipid profile, blood pressure, and glucose level. Estradiol was negatively associated with cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure. These results suggest a synergistic role of vitamin D and estradiol deficiency in developing metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women.

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  • Estrogens may act on distinct hypothalamic neurons to regulate energy homeostasis and reproduction, mouse study suggests. (2011) www.sciencedaily.com
    Brain Obesity Metabolism Hormones Estrogen Neuron Metabolic Syndrome Menopause

    From the article:

    “When women approach menopause, they gain weight in fat and their energy expenditure goes down,” says Deborah Clegg of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Estrogen levels decline and women grow increasingly susceptible to obesity and metabolic syndrome.

    Estrogen acts on receptors found throughout the body, in fat, on ovaries and in muscle. But when it comes to the hormone’s influence on metabolism, Clegg suspected receptors in the brain.

    […]

    The researchers showed female mice lacking ERα [estrogen receptor-α (ERα)] in one part of the brain (the hypothalamic steroidogenic factor-1 or SF1 neurons) gained weight without eating any more. Loss of ERα from another brain area (the hypothalamic pro-opiomelanocortin or POMC neurons) had the opposite effect: animals ate more without gaining weight. Loss of ERα receptors in those same neurons also led to various problems in ovulation and fertility.

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  • Doubling of estrogen and progesterone levels was associated with lower odds of snoring (-19%) and symptoms of sleep apnea (-23%) in women. (2022) www.sciencedaily.com
    Sleep Hormones Estrogen Menopause

    From the article:

    In the new study, the researchers analyzed data from 774 women aged 40 to 67 in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey, conducted in seven countries between 2010 and 2012. Women in the study participated in questionnaires on their respiratory health, women’s health factors, lifestyle and sleep, and gave blood samples for hormone analysis.

    551 of the women in the study (71.2%) had been told they snored, and 411 of those women also reported other symptoms of sleep apnea. Among all women, a doubling of serum concentrations of estrone was associated with 19% decreased odds of snoring. A doubling of progesterone levels was associated with 9% decreased odds of snoring. Among snorers, a doubling of the concentrations of three estrogens (17β-estradiol, estrone and estrone 3-sulfate) was associated with 17% to 23% decreased odds of women having been told they breathe irregularly during sleep. A doubling of progesterone concentration, among snorers, was associated with 12% decreased odds of having woken with a choking sensation in the previous year.

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  • For women, greater exposure to estrogen in life may protect brain regions that are vulnerable to Alzheimer’s. (2021) www.sciencedaily.com
    Brain Alzheimer's Hormones Estrogen Menopause

    From the article:

    The analysis covered 99 women aged 46-58 and a comparison group of 29 similarly aged men. It confirmed that the post-menopausal and peri-menopausal (starting menopause) women, compared with the pre-menopausal women and the men, had significantly lower GMV – adjusted for age and head size – in brain areas such as the hippocampus, entorhinal cortex and temporal lobe regions, which are heavily affected by Alzheimer’s.

    By contrast, among the women, having more estrogen exposure as implied by various factors was associated with greater GMV [gray matter volume] in certain brain areas. Longer reproductive span, for example, was significantly linked to more GMV in a cluster of regions near the top of the brain including the superior parietal lobule and precuneus of the left hemisphere. Having had more children was significantly associated with more GMV in inferior and middle frontal gyri, and middle and inferior temporal gyri. Having used hormone replacement therapy was associated with more GMV in superior frontal gyrus and several other brain regions. All these brain regions are known to be affected by aging and Alzheimer’s.

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  • Testosterone predominance may increase the prevalence of metabolic syndrome during menopause. (2008) www.sciencedaily.com
    Hormones Testosterone Estrogen Metabolic Syndrome Cardiovascular Menopause

    From the article:

    “Menopause-related testosterone predominance appears to be implicated as a key hormonal change that is associated with the incidence of metabolic syndrome,” said lead investigator Imke Janssen, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Preventive Medicine at Rush University Medical Center.

    It was previously thought that estrogen exerted a direct positive effect on cardiovascular disease risk in women, a benefit that was lost as women transitioned from a premenopausal to a postmenopausal state and experienced a loss of estrogen.

    “Our study data shows that the change in estrogen level is, at best, a weak and nonsignificant predictor of metabolic syndrome risk,” said Janssen. “A more likely story is that the progressive testosterone predominance exerts a direct negative effect on cardiovascular risk.”

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  • Estrogen improves symptoms in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease. (2019) www.sciencedaily.com
    Brain Parkinson's Hormones Estrogen Menopause

    From the article

    Estrogen is thought to protect movement neurons from Parkinson’s disease, but how is unknown. Since the patients more susceptible to Parkinson’s disease – men and post-menopausal women – have low estrogen levels, estrogen treatment might be an effective way to delay and reduce symptoms.

    Silke Nuber and colleagues at Harvard Medical School treated mouse models of Parkinson’s disease with brain-selective estrogen and compared the motor performance of males and females before and after treatment. The female mice showed less severe symptoms at a later age, but estrogen still improved their symptoms. In male mice, the estrogen treatment reduced alpha-synuclein breakdown and buildup and helped with severe symptoms, suggesting that estrogen could be a viable treatment option for Parkinson’s patients with low estrogen levels.

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  • The contraceptive pill and hormone replacement therapy may protect against brain aneurysm. (2011) www.eurekalert.org
    Hormones Drug Aneurysm Menopause

    From the article:

    Oestrogen helps maintain the structure of blood vessel walls by promoting the division of endothelial cells within the vessel walls, which is important for repair if the vessels become damaged. However, oestrogen levels drop significantly at the menopause.

    Women have been shown to be more likely to develop a cerebral aneurysms after the age of 40 years, and aneurysms are most likely to rupture between the ages of 50 and 59 years.

    The authors asked 60 women with cerebral aneurysms about their use of the oral contraceptive pill and hormone replacement therapy, and this was compared with usage in 4,682 other women drawn from the general public.

    Women with cerebral aneurysms were found to have been significantly less likely to have taken oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy. Women with cerebral aneurysms also had an earlier average age of menopause.

    Previous studies have shown that use of the oral contraceptive pill protects against haemorrhagic stroke in later life, while women who start their periods early and/or do not have children are at greater risk.

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  • Early menopause may be linked to increased risk of brain aneurysm. (2012) www.eurekalert.org
    Hormones Alcohol Tobacco Aneurysm Menopause

    From the article:

    The average age at which women in both groups had started the menopause was similar, and analysis of the results showed that later menopause and use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) protected against the risk of a cerebral aneurysm, lessening the risk by 21% and 77%, respectively.

    Premature menopause - before the age of 40 - had occurred in one in four (26%) of the women who had had an aneurysm compared with around one in five (19%) of those in the comparison group.

    And each successive four year increase in the age at which a woman went through the menopause lessened the likelihood of a cerebral aneurysm by around 21%.

    Smoking did not seem to be linked to an increase in risk, while alcohol consumption was of borderline significance.

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  • Lost memory in menopause explained: Estrogen provides a protective role in mitigating effects of visceral fat on brain structural networks and memory jamanetwork.com
    Brain Alzheimer's Obesity Memory Estrogen Visceral Fat Menopause

    Estrogen mitigates the association between visceral fat on cognitive decline.

    Estradiol, a form of estrogen, is the primary female sex hormone. It participates in menstrual cycle regulation and drives the development of female secondary sex characteristics, such as breasts, a wider pelvis, and gynoid fat – fat that forms around the hips, thighs, and breasts. Evidence suggests that estradiol exerts both cardioprotective and neuroprotective effects. Findings from a 2020 study demonstrate that estradiol mitigates the association between visceral fat on cognitive decline.

    Cognitive decline is characterized by altered brain structural networks and accelerated degeneration with aging. Scientists don’t fully understand the biological mechanisms that drive cognitive decline, but evidence indicates that visceral fat – a type of fat that accumulates in the abdominal cavity – may play a role. Visceral fat is metabolically active and is associated with increased markers of inflammation and oxidative stress, and decreased levels of anti-inflammatory proteins, such as adiponectin

    The cross-sectional study involved 974 cognitively healthy females and males (average age, ~50 years). Using magnetic resonance imaging, the investigators measured the participants' gray matter volume, cerebral cortex area, intracranial blood vessels, and visceral fat. They also measured estradiol concentrations in a subset (390) of the females. All the participants completed neuropsychological testing to assess memory performance.

    The investigators found that visceral fat exacerbated the harmful effects of aging on the brain’s structural networks in both females and males. However, estradiol mitigated some of these effects in the females, but not the males. Females between the ages of 35 and 55 years (the period surrounding menopause) who had lower estradiol concentrations were more likely to exhibit greater structural network impairments and worse memory performance.

    These findings suggest that estradiol mitigates some of the harmful effects of visceral fat on the brain’s structural networks and cognitive health. Interestingly, the fasting-mimicking diet preferentially depletes visceral fat. Learn more in this clip featuring Dr. Valter Longo.

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  • Living in Areas With More Greenery May Boost Cognitive Function neurosciencenews.com
    Brain Pollution Menopause

    Residential greenspace exposure improves cognitive function.

    Spending time in nature is associated with a variety of beneficial effects on mental and physical health. For example, recent research demonstrated that spending time in the natural environment reduces ruminative thinking. Other research indicates that walking in forested areas improves immune function, likely due to beneficial bioactive compounds produced by trees and inhaled by walkers. Findings from a new study suggest that residential greenspace exposure improves cognitive function in middle-aged women.

    The investigation included more than 13,000 women enrolled in the Nurses' Health Study II, an ongoing study of health outcomes of female nurses living in the United States. The participants completed an online battery of cognitive tests that gauged psychomotor speed, attention, learning, and working memory. The investigators calculated the participants' exposure to greenspace based on satellite imagery of their residential address and evaluated the effects of possible mediators of cognitive function, such as air pollution exposure, depression, and physical activity.

    They found that even after considering the participants' ages at assessment, race, and socioeconomic status, women who had greater greenspace exposure scored higher on aspects of psychomotor speed and attention than women with less exposure. The difference in scores was roughly equivalent to one year of chronological aging. Greenspace exposure did not appear to affect learning or working memory. They also found that exposure to pollution was not a mitigating factor, but depression was, aligning with previous research.

    These findings suggest that residential greenspace exposure benefits cognitive performance in middle-aged women. They also underscore the importance of public health efforts to promote the incorporation of natural areas into urban planning.

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  • Menopause disrupts sleep, accelerating biological aging www.sciencedaily.com
    Aging Sleep Genetics Menopause

    Menopause accelerates epigenetic aging.

    Menopause, which typically occurs around the age of 52 years, is the cessation of a female’s menstrual cycle and signifies the loss of reproductive capacity. Evidence suggests that early menopause increases the risk for age-related disease and premature death. Findings from a 2016 study suggest that menopause accelerates epigenetic aging.

    Epigenetics is a biological mechanism that regulates gene expression (how and when certain genes are turned on or off). Diet, lifestyle, and environmental exposures can drive epigenetic changes throughout a person’s lifespan to influence health and disease. Epigenetic age is based on a person’s DNA methylation profile and strongly correlates with their chronological age. However, some exceptions exist. For example, the epigenetic ages of semi-supercentenarians (people who live to be 105 to 109 years old) are markedly younger than their chronological ages.

    The investigators analyzed the DNA methylation profiles of more than 3,100 women enrolled in four large observational studies (Women’s Health Initiative; InCHIANTI; Parkinson’s Disease, Environment, and Genes; and the National Survey of Health and Development) to identify links between epigenetic age and menopause. Their analysis was based on assessment of the biological age of cells taken from the women’s blood, saliva, and inner cheek. Because the age at which a female experiences menopause is heritable, they conducted a Mendelian randomization analysis to identify genetic links between age at menopause and epigenetic aging.

    They found that menopause markedly accelerated epigenetic aging. Females who experienced earlier natural menopause were more likely to have “older” blood than those who experienced later menopause, but females who had surgical menopause (a surgical procedure in which the ovaries are removed) had older blood and saliva than those who experienced natural menopause. Cells taken from the inner cheek of females who took menopausal hormone therapies were younger than those who did not take hormones. They also found that a particular gene variant that influences the age at which a female experiences menopause also influences age acceleration.

    These findings suggest that menopause accelerates epigenetic aging in females. The investigators conceded that their findings do not establish a cause-and-effect relationship, however. In a related study, researchers found that menopause-related sleep disorders, such as insomnia or poor sleep quality, contribute to the accelerated aging associated with menopause. Learn more about accelerated epigenetic aging in this episode featuring Dr. Steve Horvath.

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  • Mid-life long duration antibiotic use of >= two months linked to poorer scores in cognition, learning, working memory, and attention in later life www.sciencealert.com
    Brain Aging Microbiome Performance Memory Antibiotics Dementia Menopause

    Antibiotic use in midlife increases a person’s risk for neuropsychiatric diseases.

    Antibiotics are prescribed for a wide range of infectious diseases. In 2015, healthcare providers in the United States wrote nearly 270 million antibiotic prescriptions – more than 800 antibiotic prescriptions for every 1,000 people. Health experts estimate that 30 percent of these prescriptions were likely unnecessary. Findings from a new study suggest that antibiotic use in midlife increases a person’s risk for neuropsychiatric diseases.

    The study included approximately 15,000 midlife participants (average age, 55 years) enrolled in the Nurses’ Health Study II, an ongoing prospective cohort study of female nurses. The participants completed questionnaires regarding their general health, diet, lifestyle, and medication use during the previous four years, including antibiotic use and the reason for which the antibiotic was prescribed. The investigators categorized the participants' cumulative antibiotic use as none, one to 14 days, 15 days to two months, and two months or more. Participants also completed a battery of neuropsychological tests.

    The investigators found that participants who took antibiotics for at least two months over the previous four years were more likely to perform worse on neuropsychological tests than participants who did not take antibiotics. The influence of antibiotic use on neuropsychological test scores was roughly equivalent to three to four years of aging. These findings held true even after considering other factors that could influence cognitive function, including age and coexisting illnesses.

    These findings suggest that longer exposure to antibiotics in midlife negatively influences cognitive health, underscoring the importance of moderating antibiotic use in older adults. They also support findings from animal studies that suggest antibiotic use early in life alters neuropeptide signaling pathways that influence behavioral development. Learn more about the effects of antibiotic use in early life in this clip featuring Dr. Eran Elinav.

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  • Discovery highlights why women are more susceptible to Alzheimer's disease: follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) may be a major pathogenic factor www.eurekalert.org
    Brain Alzheimer's Aging Neurodegeneration Menopause

    From the article:

    “During menopause, the serum concentration of FSH strongly increases, binding to the cognate FSH receptor on neurons and activating the C/EBPβ/AEP pathway. This results in Aβ and Tau pathologies, leading to the development of AD,” said Dr. Zaidi Mone, co-corresponding author of the study and a tenured professor at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York.

    The researchers employed different methods to demonstrate this finding. Using ovariectomized mice, they used anti-FSH antibody treatment to block FSH and inactivate the C/EBPβ/AEP pathway. They also deleted FSH receptor (FSHR) expression in neurons to abolish the binding of FSH to FSHR in the hippocampus. Both of these methods alleviated pathology and cognitive dysfunction. In addition, knockdown of C/EBPβ in the AD mice model decreased AD pathologies.

    Besides working with female mice, the researchers also injected FSH into male mice and discovered that FSH promoted AD pathologies.

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  • Estrogen may provide protection against Alzheimer's disease. medicalxpress.com
    Brain Estrogen Menopause

    Scientists have long known that estrogen, the primary female sex hormone, exerts protective effects on multiple organ systems. For example, estrogen helps maintain healthy blood lipid levels, reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, and promotes bone health. Findings from a recent study suggest that estrogen protects against age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease.

    Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive cognitive decline and memory impairment. The disease disproportionally affects women, and scientists have identified distinct sex-related differences in Alzheimer’s disease symptoms, progression, biomarkers, and risk factors. Interestingly, the pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease begin to appear 10 to 20 years before the onset of symptoms – roughly coinciding with the period of menopause in women.

    The study involved 99 women and 29 men (average ages, 52 years) who were cognitively normal. The women provided information about their reproductive histories, such as when they began menstruating, how many pregnancies they had, when they experienced menopause, and whether they had used hormonal contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy. Both women and men underwent memory testing and brain scans.

    The scans revealed that the women who were peri- or postmenopausal had less gray matter volume in the temporal cortex, an area of the brain vulnerable to the effects of Alzheimer’s disease. Women who were premenopausal or had longer estrogen exposure due to their reproductive histories were more likely to have greater gray matter volumes. Exposure to estrogen did not influence performance on the memory tests directly, but participants with greater gray matter volume tended to perform better than those with lower volume.

    These findings suggest that estrogen exposure exerts protective effects on brain health and illuminate the need for sex-specific research on Alzheimer’s disease pathology and therapies. This was a small study, however, and only identified associations between estrogen exposure and brain health, not causes.

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  • Dietary protein and calcium reduce the risk of bone fractures and falls in older adults. www.eurekalert.org
    Dairy Nutrition Bone Calcium Protein Menopause

    Bone mass decreases markedly with aging, compromising overall fitness and contributing to fractures and falls, especially among older adults living in residential care. Evidence indicates that nutritional factors play critical roles in maintaining bone mass and overall health. Findings from a recent study suggest that dietary protein and calcium reduce the risk of fractures and falls in older adults.

    Calcium participates in many aspects of human health, but it is perhaps best known for its role in bone health. The body maintains very tight control over the calcium circulating in the blood at any given time – a phenomenon referred to as calcium balance. Protein exerts variable effects (both good and bad) on a person’s calcium balance, depending on their dietary calcium intake. For example, dietary protein promotes the production of insulin-like growth factor-1, a protein involved in bone formation. But protein also increases urinary calcium losses, which can harm bone health. Current dietary guidelines recommend that older adults consume 1,200 milligrams (mg) of calcium per day and 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram (g/kg) of bodyweight per day.

    The two-year, randomized-controlled trial involved more than 7,000 adults (average age, 86 years) living in 60 residential aged care facilities in Australia. All participants were vitamin D-sufficent. Half of the facilities supplemented the residents' diet with additional calcium- and protein-rich foods (milk, yogurt, and cheese) to achieve a total intake of 1,142 mg of calcium and 69 grams of protein (1.1 g/kg body weight) per day. The other half of the facilities maintained their usual menus, which provided residents 700 mg/day of calcium and 58 grams (0.9 g/kg body weight) of protein per day. The investigators tracked the number of falls, fractures, and deaths from all causes among the participants.

    They found that residents who consumed the high calcium, high protein foods were 33 percent less likely to experience any type of fracture, 46 percent less likely to experience a hip fracture, and 11 percent less likely to experience a fall. These results were achieved within five months of initiating the dietary changes. No changes in the number of deaths were observed.

    These findings suggest that increasing calcium and protein intake reduces the risk of falls and fractures among older adults in residential care. It is noteworthy that the foods used in this intervention were dairy products. More than two-thirds of people worldwide cannot tolerate dairy products due to lactose intolerance. Non-dairy sources of calcium- and protein-rich foods include canned, whole sardines; fortified nut milks and cereals; and beans, especially soybeans and soy products, such as tofu. This study was funded by various international dairy councils.

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  • Milk chocolate exerts differential health effects, depending on the timing of consumption. www.the-scientist.com
    Metabolism Menopause Microbiome Sleep Circadian Rhythm Dairy Blood Sugar

    A wide range of beneficial health effects have been ascribed to consumption of chocolate, especially dark chocolate, which is rich in bioactive compounds that exert antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cardioprotective properties. Consumption of milk chocolate, however, is widely associated with harmful effects (such as weight gain) due to its high caloric content. Findings from a recent study suggest that milk chocolate exerts differential health effects, depending on the timing of consumption.

    A growing body of evidence suggests that the timing of food intake plays important roles in metabolic regulation and circadian rhythmicity. For example, eating a large, carbohydrate-rich meal late in the evening impairs glucose tolerance and insulin secretion, contributing to the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

    The study involved 19 Caucasian postmenopausal females with normal weight or overweight (average age, 52 years; average body mass index, 25). The participants followed their typical dietary pattern for the duration of the study, with three interventions in random order: 100 grams of milk chocolate (roughly the amount in a standard size candy bar – 542 calories) with breakfast for two weeks, within an hour of waking up; 100 grams of milk chocolate for two weeks, within an hour before bedtime; and no chocolate for two weeks. A one-week washout period separated each intervention. They completed questionnaires that assessed their hunger and appetite for sweets at various timepoints throughout the study. The study investigators assessed the participants' anthropometric measures, including body mass index, total body fat, and waist circumference. They also assessed the composition and function of the participants' gut microbiota and measured their blood glucose levels, body temperature, and sleep quality.

    The study investigators found that consuming 100 grams of milk chocolate in the morning or evening did not cause the women to gain weight. The women reported that they felt less hunger and less desire to eat sweets. When they ate milk chocolate in the morning, they consumed about 300 fewer calories during the rest of the day; their fat burning increased; their fasting blood glucose and waist circumference decreased; and their sleep quality was impaired. When they ate milk chocolate in the evening, they consumed about 150 fewer calories during the rest of the day; their physical activity, heat dissipation after meals, and carbohydrate metabolism increased; and their sleep quality improved. Both timings of chocolate consumption altered the composition and function of the gut microbiota.

    These findings demonstrate that the timing of milk chocolate consumption has varied effects on metabolism, dietary intake, and sleep function, potentially influencing overall health. Learn how food timing influences cancer risk in this clip featuring Dr. Ruth Patterson.

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  • A very-low-calorie diet increases harmful gut bacteria. www.sciencedaily.com
    Obesity Microbiome Fasting Antibiotics Menopause

    The gut microbiota is composed of the community of bacteria, archaea, fungi, and viruses that live in the human intestine and is unique to each individual. Diet can modulate the structure and function of the gut microbiota in ways that either increase or decrease disease risk. Findings of a new report detail the effects of a very-low-calorie diet on the gut microbiota, weight loss, and infection risk.

    Following the absorption of most macronutrients (carbohydrates, fats, and proteins) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) present in food in the small intestine, undigested food travels to the large intestine where microbes metabolize any remaining nutrients. The amount and type of food consumed in the diet directly affect the amount and type of microbes that can flourish in the large intestine. Consuming a wide variety of foods in the diet supports a wide variety of microbes, while restricting certain foods or restricting caloric intake may reduce the abundance and diversity of the microbiota, a risk factor for disease.

    The authors of the report recruited 80 females who had completed menopause and who had overweight or obesity. They randomized participants to complete a medically supervised weight-loss program or to maintain a stable weight for 16 weeks. Participants in the weight-loss program consumed a very-low-calorie diet (800 calories per day) for eight weeks, followed by four weeks of a conventional low-calorie diet and four weeks of a weight maintenance diet. The researchers sequenced DNA from the participants' gut microbiota to determine the number and type of microbes present. Finally, they collected gut microbiota samples from the baseline and 12-week timepoints from the participants who lost the most weight during the weight loss program. They transplanted these samples into germ-free mice, which lack a microbiota.

    Participants in the weight-loss program lost an average of 14 percent of their body weight (about 27 pounds) after 12 weeks. A very-low-calorie diet reduced the abundance and diversity of microbes in the gut, but these changes were reversed when participants returned to a normal diet. Microbiota samples from the participants in the very-low-calorie diet intervention were enriched in Clostridioides difficile, a gastrointestinal pathogen (commonly referred to as “C. diff.”). This increase was associated with a reduction in the production of bile acids, which aid in dietary fat digestion and are protective against gastrointestinal pathogens. Mice that received a microbiota transplant from the very-low-calorie diet timepoint lost significantly more body weight due to changes in microbiota structure and reduced nutrient absorption, compared to mice that received a microbiota transplant from baseline.

    This research highlights the importance of diet in the interplay between pathogenic and beneficial microbes in the gut microbiota.

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  • Age of menopause and length of reproductive lifespan have increased in females over the last 60 years. www.sciencedaily.com
    Menopause

    A female’s reproductive life begins with menarche, the first menstrual period, and ends with menopause, which is defined as cessation of menstruation for at least 12 consecutive months. The length of this reproductive period may have important implications for health. Findings of a recent report demonstrate the trend in reproductive years for females living in the United States.

    The length of the female reproductive lifespan may be influenced by many factors, including access to health care, nutrition, poverty, and other environmental factors. Previous research reports that a later age of natural menopause is associated with greater life expectancy; reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and atherosclerosis; and less loss of bone density and a reduced risk of osteoporosis and fractures. However, later natural menopause is also associated with an increased risk of breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancers.

    The authors utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a large-scale survey research project that tracks the health, nutrition, and lifestyle factors of adults and children in the United States over time. The first period of data collection occurred between 1959 and 1962 and the second occurred between 2017 and 2018. From these data, the authors selected females between 40 and 74 years of age who had completed a natural menopause, meaning they did not have medical procedures that induced early menopause.

    The researchers included over 7,000 females in their analysis. Between the two data periods, the average reproductive lifespan increased from 35.0 years to 37.1 years. This change was due to an increase in the average age of natural menopause (48.4 years to 49.9 years) and a decrease in the average age of menarche (13.5 years to 12.7 years). Factors that were associated with an earlier age of natural menopause and shorter reproductive lifespan included Black or Hispanic race/ethnicity, poverty, and current and former smoking status. Factors that were associated with a later age of natural menopause and longer reproductive lifespan included greater years of education and oral contraceptive use.

    This research demonstrates a statistically significant lengthening of reproductive life for females in the United States; however, the impact of this longer reproductive lifespan on overall health is unknown.

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  • Antioxidant-rich moringa and amaranth leaf powders decrease oxidative stress and improve metabolic health. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
    Diabetes Moringa Menopause

    During the process of menopause, the ovaries produce less estrogen, leading to several physiological changes that include the end of reproductive life. Lower estrogen levels in post-menopausal females may decrease the body’s antioxidant enzymes because estrogen has known antioxidant properties. In a recent report, a group of researchers tested the effects of drumstick (Moringa oleifera) and amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor) leaf supplements on antioxidant capacity in post-menopausal females.

    Much of the bodily damage that comes with aging is caused by oxygen radicals, but many foods and supplements contain antioxidant compounds that protect the body. Drumstick leaves contain a number of antioxidant compounds including the isothiocyanate called moringin, which is similar to sulforaphane found in some cruciferous vegetables. Amaranth leaves contain a number of antioxidant compounds as well as other beneficial nutrients, such as magnesium, folic acid, and dietary fiber.

    The investigators enrolled 90 post-menopausal females and allocated them to one of three groups. One group received 7 grams of drumstick leaf powder for three months, another received 9 grams of amaranth leaf powder for three months, and the third group received no intervention. The investigators measured antioxidant enzymes, glucose, and malondialdehyde, a marker of oxidative stress, in the participants’s blood.

    The authors found that the drumstick leaf and amaranth leaf powders increased retinol by 9 percent and 5 percent (respectively) and increased vitamin C by 44 percent and 6 percent (respectively). The drumstick leaf and amaranth leaf powders decreased malondialdehyde by 16 percent and 10 percent (respectively) and decreased fasting glucose levels by 14 percent and 10 percent (respectively).

    These results suggest that drumstick and amaranth leaf supplements improve antioxidant capacity and reduce oxidative stress in postmenopausal females while also improving metabolic health.

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  • Alterations in brain blood use contribute to motor deficits in type 2 diabetes in women. www.sciencedaily.com
    Diabetes Menopause Brain Insulin Resistance Blood Sugar

    People with type 2 diabetes often experience sensory and motor deficits. These deficits have been attributed to peripheral nerve damage that commonly occurs with the condition. Findings from a new study suggest that changes in brain blood use contribute to sensory and motor deficits associated with type 2 diabetes.

    Poor blood glucose control and insulin resistance – the hallmarks of type 2 diabetes – contribute to micro- and macrovascular changes in blood vessels. These changes promote a wide range of complications that affect multiple organ systems, including cardiovascular, neurological, and musculoskeletal systems, contributing to sensory and motor deficits. Postmenopausal women appear to be at greater risk of these complications.

    The study involved 42 postmenopausal women over the age of 60 years who had type 2 diabetes. The authors of the study measured the participants' blood pressure, cholesterol, and HbA1C levels (a measure of long-term blood glucose control) and assessed the women for peripheral nerve damage. The participants underwent testing to evaluate the strength and tactile sensation in their dominant hand. Then they performed a series of exercises with the same hand while undergoing functional near-infrared spectroscopy, a type of imaging technology, to assess oxygenated and unoxygenated blood use by the brain

    The spectroscopy data revealed that the women with motor deficits exhibited reduced oxygenated blood use in their brains. Sensory deficits were not associated with these changes, however. These data suggest that motor deficits associated with type 2 diabetes in postmenopausal women are related to altered blood use in the brain. Further research in men and other age groups is needed to confirm these findings.

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  • High glycemic index diets may trigger insomnia www.sciencedaily.com
    Sleep Carbohydrates Menopause

    Roughly one in four women living in the United States suffers from insomnia. Lack of sleep is associated with an increased risk for car accidents and poor mental and physical health. A new study suggests that intake of high glycemic index foods may increase the risk of developing insomnia among postmenopausal women.

    Glycemic index is a value (between 0 and 100) assigned to a defined amount of a carbohydrate-containing food based on how much the food increases a person’s blood glucose level within two hours of eating, compared to eating an equivalent amount of pure glucose. Glucose has a glycemic index value of 100. Examples of high glycemic index foods include white bread, rice, potatoes, sweets, and many packaged breakfast cereals.

    The cross-sectional study was based on data collected from the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study and included more than 50,000 postmenopausal women living in the United States who were between the ages of 50 and 79 years. In addition to providing information about their dietary intake, each of the women rated the quality of their sleep and the frequency with which they experienced certain sleep problems, including insomnia.

    The results indicated that women who ate high glycemic index diets were more likely to develop insomnia. These findings suggest that dietary modification to reduce the intake of high glycemic foods may reduce the risk of developing insomnia in postmenopausal women.

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