Follicle stimulating hormone, its association with glucose and lipid metabolism during the menopausal transition.

ABSTRACT

AIM: Accumulative evidence shows that follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is associated with metabolic disorders. We aimed to ascertain the relationship between FSH, blood glucose and lipid metabolism in general perimenopausal women. METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed 2121 perimenopausal women aged 40-54 years in Zhejiang Province from January 2016 to December 2018. Regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between FSH and metabolic parameters. RESULTS: Serum FSH had a significant inverse association with fasting plasma glucose (P < 0.05) and triglycerides (TG) (P < 0.01) in perimenopausal women. However, after adjusting for body mass index, there was no significant association between FSH and fasting plasma glucose. In a model fully adjusted for demographic variables, estradiol, body mass index, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, homocysteine, systolic blood pressure and blood viscosity, a significant association still existed between FSH and TG (standardized ß = -0.095; R2 = 0.155; P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Overall, FSH is negatively associated with metabolic parameters, especially TG, in perimenopausal women. These results indicated that FSH might be a biomarker for the primary prevention of disorders with lipid metabolism during the menopausal period.