Objective: To investigate the relationship between androgen level and body adipose tissue content and distribution via a cross sectional survey in healthy women aged 40 to 60 years.
Methods: A total of 222 women were divided into 4 groups according menstruation status, i.e. reproductive stage, early perimenopausal stage, late perimenopausal stage and postmenopausal stage. Serum level of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), total testosterone (TT) and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) were measured. Free androgen index (FAI) was calculated. Body adipose tissue content and distribution were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.
Results: In women aged 40 to 60 years, DHEA, TT and FAI level of reproductive stage women was (12.3 ± 4.1) nmol/L, (0.56 ± 0.22) nmol/L and 1.15 (quartile: 0.71 to 1.85), respectively. DHEA, TT and FAI level of early perimenopausal stage women was (12.0 ± 3.4) nmol/L, (0.56 ± 0.24) nmol/L and 1.37 (quartile: 0.89 to 1.61), respectively. DHEA, TT and FAI level of late perimenopausal stage women was (14.2 ± 4.7) nmol/L, (0.62 ± 0.18) nmol/L and 1.38 (quartile: 1.12 to 1.63). DHEA, TT and FAI level of postmenopausal stage women was (11.6 ± 3.5) nmol/L, (0.45 ± 0.22) nmol/L and 0.94 (quartile: 0.47 to 1.49). DHEA, TT and FAI level of perimenopausal stage women was comparable with those of reproductive stage women (P > 0.05), however, TT and FAI level of postmenopausal women was significantly lower than those of reproductive stage women (P = 0.001, 0.014). The total adipose percentage of reproductive stage women, early perimenopausal stage women, late perimenopausal stage women and postmenopausal stage women were (35 ± 6)%, (35 ± 5)%, (37 ± 4)% and (37 ± 5)%. The adipose percentage in "android" area of reproductive stage women, early perimenopausal stage women, late perimenopausal stage women and postmenopausal stage women were (43 ± 5)%, (43 ± 4)%, (47 ± 5)% and (46 ± 5)%. The total adipose percentage was similar in 4 groups (P = 0.312). Compared with reproductive stage women, adipose percentage of "android" area increased in late perimenopausal and postmenopausal women (P = 0.026). Women with higher FAI level presented higher adipose tissue content and higher percentage of centrally distributed adipose tissue (r = 0.28, P = 0.003).
Conclusions: Body adipose tissue tends to distribute centrally from perimenopausal stage. Androgen level is related to body adipose tissue content and distribution, but may not be the main reason of changes of fat distribution in middle life women.