Resilience, depressed mood, and menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess resilience, depressed mood, and menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 169 postmenopausal women aged 48 to 68 years were asked to fill out the Wagnild and Young Resilience Scale (WYRS), the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD-10), the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS), and a questionnaire containing personal and partner sociodemographic data. RESULTS: The median [interquartile range] age of participating women was 54 [10.0] years. Among the women, 55.6% had increased body mass index, 76.9% had a partner, 17.8% were current smokers, 14.2% had hypertension, 25.4% used psychotropic drugs, and 13.0% used hormone therapy. Forty-five percent of the women had depressed mood (CESD-10 scores ≥10), and 34.9% had severe menopausal symptoms (total MRS scores ≥17). Less resilience (lower WYRS scores) correlated with depressed mood (higher CESD-10 scores) and severe menopausal symptoms (higher total, psychological, and urogenital MRS scores). Multiple linear regression analysis determined that WYRS scores positively correlated with exercising regularly and inversely correlated with CESD-10 scores (depressed mood). CESD-10 scores positively correlated with somatic and psychological MRS subscale scores and inversely correlated with WYRS scores (less resilience). CONCLUSIONS: In this postmenopausal sample, depressed mood and participation in regular exercise correlate with lower and higher resilience, respectively. Depressed mood is associated with the severity of menopausal symptoms (somatic and psychological).

Sexual function assessment in postmenopausal women with the 14-item changes in sexual functioning questionnaire.

INTRODUCTION: Sexual function assessment is relevant to improve female health care. AIM: Assess sexual function in postmenopausal women and determine predictors related to sociodemographic, lifestyle, and health-related female/partner data and tool measures. METHODS: Cross-sectional study in which 117 sexually active postmenopausal women filled out the 14-item Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (CSFQ-14), the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Short Depression Scale (CESD-10), the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS), and a general questionnaire containing female/partner data. Correlations between tool measurements and female/partner data were analyzed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary end point was sexual function predictors. RESULTS: Median age was 57 years, 8.5% had low income, 3.4% had surgical menopause, 17.1% had hypertension, and 66.7% increased body mass index. In addition, 21.4% were current hormone therapy users and 28.2% engaged in regular exercise. According to the MRS, muscle/joint problems (86.3%) and physical/mental exhaustion (81.2%) were the top encountered menopausal symptoms. Also, 48.7% displayed depressed mood (CESD-10 total scores ≥ 10) and 64.1% displayed total CSFQ-14 scores ≤41, suggesting sexual dysfunction. Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) was high for all tools: total CSFQ-14 scale (0.87), total MRS (0.80), and the CESD-10 (0.85). CSFQ-14 total scores inversely correlated with MRS scores (total, psychological, and urogenital, P < 0.05). Arousal scale scores inversely correlated with MRS total and urogenital scores whereas orgasm scores only with the total MRS. CESD-10 scores inversely correlated with all CSFQ-14 scores and positively with all MRS scores. Multiple linear regression was used to obtain a reduced best-fit model predicting total CSFQ-14 scores (sexual function). Total CSFQ-14 scores were positively correlated to female education, and education and regular exercising in the partner and inversely correlated to CESD-10 total scores. CONCLUSION: Assessed with the CSFQ-14 tool, sexual function of this postmenopausal sample correlated to female/partner educational, lifestyle, and health factors. More research is warranted in this regard.

Soy isoflavones, diet and physical exercise modify serum cytokines in healthy obese postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the effect of diet, physical exercise, and a daily oral intake of a soy isoflavones extract (Fisiogen(®)) contained 200 mg of Glycine max, which corresponded to 80 mg of isoflavone (60.8 mg of genistein, 16 mg of daidzein and 3.2 mg of glicitein) on leptin and other adipokines plasma levels in healthy obese postmenopausal women. METHODS: A multicentric randomized longitudinal prospective cohort study was conducted in a sample of 87 healthy obese postmenopausal women. Patients were randomly assigned to a 1200 kcal diet and exercise group (control group) or a group of 1200 kcal diet, exercise, and daily oral intake of daily oral intake of a soy isoflavones extract (Fisiogen(®)) contained 200 mg of Glycine max, which corresponded to 80 mg of isoflavone (60.8 mg of genistein, 16 mg of daidzein and 3.2 mg of glicitein) (soy isoflavones group) along 6 months. Main outcome measures were: anthropometric measures, body composition, leptin, adiponectin, TNF-alpha, homocysteine, C-reactive protein, glucose, insulin, lipid profile and oestradiol serum levels, Kupperman index and Cervantes Scale. RESULTS: Mean serum leptin and TNF-alpha levels declined after 6 months in both groups of the study, but only women in the soy isoflavones group showed a significant increase of mean serum levels of adiponectin. CONCLUSIONS: Diet, physical exercise and daily oral intake of a soy isoflavones extract (Fisiogen(®)) contained 200 mg of Glycine max, which corresponded to 80 mg of isoflavone (60.8 mg of genistein, 16 mg of daidzein and 3.2 mg of glicitein) have a beneficial effect on serum leptin, adiponectin and TNF-α in healthy obese postmenopausal women after 6 months of treatment.

Soy isoflavones, Mediterranean diet, and physical exercise in postmenopausal women with insulin resistance.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a standard dose of 40 mg of soy isoflavones prescribed in routine clinical practice for treatment of menopausal symptoms has some influence on glucose homeostasis in postmenopausal women with insulin resistance (IR). METHODS: A total of 116 postmenopausal women with IR were randomly assigned to a group of Mediterranean diet and physical exercise (control group) or a group of Mediterranean diet, physical exercise, and daily oral ingestion of 40 mg of soy isoflavones (soy isoflavones group). Anthropometric measures, Kupperman Index values, Cervantes Scale score, and blood samples for glucose, insulin, lipid profile, creatinine, uric acid, homocysteine, folic acid, vitamin B12, selenium, and estradiol were determined at baseline and at intervals of 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. RESULTS: Mean homeostasis model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR) values remained unchanged from the baseline in the control group but steadily decreased in the soy isoflavones group at 6 months (P = 0.042). There were no statistically significant differences between both groups in mean HOMA-IR scores at baseline, but statistically significantly lower values were found in the soy isoflavones group at 6 months (P = 0.009), 12 months (P = 0.011), 18 months (P = 0.018), and 24 months (P = 0.012). Changes in HOMA-IR values were also clearly related to body mass index (P < 0.001), abdominal circumference (P < 0.001), and treatment (P = 0.044) when a linear regression analysis was carried out. CONCLUSIONS: Daily intake of 40 mg of soy isoflavones together with a Mediterranean diet and exercise reduced IR in postmenopausal women who had IR in the first place. It was significantly better than lifestyle changes alone. If corroborated, this may be a useful intervention for these women.

Selenium and health-related quality of life in menopausal women.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate whether there is a relation between serum selenium levels and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in overweight and obese postmenopausal women. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 104 overweight and obese postmenopausal women attending a gynaecological clinic for their annual gynaecological examination. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Age, anthropometric parameters, educational level, smoking habits, serum glucose, insulin, lipid profile, C-reactive protein, folic acid, vitamin B12, homocysteine and selenium levels were determined, and the Cervantes Scale was used to evaluate HRQoL. RESULTS: Serum selenium mean value levels were similar in the different groups of HRQoL and there were no differences in the four domains of the Cervantes Scale. When women were classified according to serum selenium tertiles, higher levels of serum cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) and triglycerides were found in women in the lowest serum selenium tertile. CONCLUSIONS: In overweight and obese postmenopausal women, serum selenium level is not related to HRQoL but higher levels of cholesterol, LDLc and triglyceride values were detected in women in the lowest serum selenium tertile.

Insulin resistence and health-related quality of life in postmenopausal women.

Health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) was similar between the menopausal women with and without Insulin Resistance (IR). However, when IR women with Metabolic Syndrome were considered, a higher level of problems on the HR-QOL global score was found and the difference was mainly due to Health and Sexuality domains.