Arlyn G. Riskind
Director, Media Relations
Phone: (301) 941-0240
Email: ariskind@endo-society.org

Aaron Lohr
Associate Director, Media Relations
Phone: (240) 482-1380
Email: alohr@endo-society.org

1.   Hot Flashes May be Fewer in Older, Heavier Women
2.   Smoking after Menopause May Increase Sex Hormone Levels
3.   New Fact Sheet Defines Hypothyroidism and Explains Treatment Options

1. Hot Flashes May be Fewer in Older, Heavier Women

Study finds that obesity’s impact on incidence of hot flashes may depend on age

A recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM) found that among women aged 60 and above, heavier women have fewer hot flashes than their leaner counterparts. The inverse association between body size and hot flashes was observed only among the older women.

In the last decade, research on perimenopausal women has shown that heavier women tend to have more hot flashes.  As a result of this research, clinicians began to observe obesity as a risk factor for hot flashes. However, according to this new study, after a woman reaches an age where she becomes menopausal and her ovary no longer produces estrogen, it appears that the heavier the woman is, the fewer hot flashes she experiences.

“This study provides a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between body size and hot flashes, emphasizing the important role of age,” said the study’s lead author, Rebecca Thurston, PhD of the University of Pittsburgh. “Our findings show that the benefit of higher fat levels for hot flashes is not apparent until a woman is about 60 years old.”

In this study, researchers examined 52 women who had reported hot flashes and were not on medication impacting hot flashes. Study participants had their body fat percentage, waist circumference and BMI measured and were physiologically assessed for hot flashes by use of a monitor that measured skin conductance. Participants also self-reported hot flashes by using a portable electronic diary.

“Our study showed that higher adiposity, BMI and waist circumference were associated with fewer physiologically-assessed hot flashes among older postmenopausal women with hot flashes,” said Thurston. “Moreover, associations were most pronounced among Caucasian women. This study underscores the importance of considering how age and race may modify the relationship between obesity and hot flashes.”

Also working on the study was Nanette Santoro of the University of Colorado and Karen Matthews of the University of Pittsburgh.

The article, “Adiposity and hot flashes in midlife woman: A modifying role of age,” appears in the October 2011 issue of JCEM.

2. Smoking after Menopause May Increase Sex Hormone Levels

Elevated sex hormone levels associated with chronic disease risk

A recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM) found that postmenopausal women who smoke have higher androgen and estrogen levels than non-smoking women, with sex hormone levels being highest in heavy smokers.

Previous studies have shown that high levels of estrogens and androgens are potential risk factors for breast and endometrial cancer as well as type 2 diabetes. Cigarette smoking is a well established risk factor for chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, but earlier studies examining the relationship between smoking and sex hormone levels have yielded inconsistent results. This new cross-sectional study in a population-based sample of postmenopausal women suggests that sex hormones may provide one plausible mechanism through which cigarette smoking influences chronic disease risk.

“The observed increase in sex hormone levels with cigarette use suggests that tobacco smoke, apart from its direct toxic and carcinogenic effects, may also influence chronic disease risk through hormonal mechanisms,” said Judith Brand, MSc, of University Medical Center Utrecht in The Netherlands and lead author of the study. “The good news is that the effect of cigarette smoking appears reversible, as an almost immediate reduction in sex hormone levels was seen in women who quit using cigarettes.”

In this study, researchers examined blood samples from 2,030 postmenopausal women aged 55-81 years. Study participants were categorized as ‘current’, ‘former’ or ‘never’ smokers based on their responses to questions regarding cigarette use. Researchers found that study participants who were ‘current’ smokers had higher circulating levels of androgens and estrogens, while ‘former’ smokers who had quit within 1-2 years had sex hormone levels the same as ‘never’ smokers.

“Obviously, quitting smoking has major health benefits such as prevention of cancer, respiratory and heart diseases,” said Brand. “Our research suggests that smoking cessation may have additional effects by modifying hormone-related disease risks, but this was not the subject of the present study and requires further investigation.”

Other researchers working on the study include Mei-Fen Chan, Robert Luben and Kay-Tee Khaw of the University of Cambridge (UK); Mitch Dowsett and Elizabeth Folkerd of Royal Marsden Hospital in London, UK; Nicholas Wareham of the Medical Research Council in Cambridge, UK; and Yvonne van der Schouw of University Medical Center Utrecht in The Netherlands.

The article, “Cigarette smoking and endogenous sex hormones in postmenopausal women,” appears in the October 2011 issue of JCEM.

3. New Fact Sheet Defines Hypothyroidism and Explains Treatment Options

The Hormone Foundation has added a new bilingual (English and Spanish) fact sheet to its collection of patient education materials.  Medicines for Hypothyroidism explains the important role of thyroid hormones T3 and T4 in maintaining health and presents levothyroxine—synthetic T4—as the preferred treatment for hypothyroidism.  Precise dosing and careful dose adjustment are key to successful treatment, particularly among people older than age 60, pregnant women, and infants, children, and teens.  Other, less advantageous treatment options presented include combination T3 + T4 drugs and dried animal thyroid. 

The fact sheet can be found online at: http://www.hormone.org/upload/Medicines-for-Hypothyroidism-Bilingual-WEB.pdf.

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Founded in 1916, The Endocrine Society is the world's oldest, largest, and most active organization devoted to research on hormones and the clinical practice of endocrinology. Today, The Endocrine Society's membership consists of over 14,000 scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in more than 80 countries. Together, these members represent all basic, applied, and clinical interests in endocrinology. The Endocrine Society is based in Chevy Chase, Md. To learn more about the Society, and the field of endocrinology, visit our web site at www.endo-society.org.