Visceral fat, usually known as belly fat, is the fat surrounding internal organs around the waistline. Commonly thought to be a function of age, research from the Rush University Medical Center shows that it is in fact a change in hormone balance that causes an increase in visceral fat during menopause.
The study measured fat content in patients' abdominal cavities with CT scans, and blood tests gauged hormone levels. Findings revealed the the level of “bioavailable” testosterone, or testosterone that is active in the body may be the key predictor of visceral fat.
The study broadens an understanding of the role of the hormone testosterone in what is known as metabolic syndrome, a collection of risk factors for heart disease. Increased risk of cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women was long thought to be caused by the loss of the protective effect of the hormone estrogen. According to Imke Janssen, lead author of the study, “…it is the change in the hormonal balance - specifically, the increase in active testosterone - that is predominantly responsible for visceral fat, and for the increased risk of cardiovascular disease.”
News source: http://www.healthjockey.com/2009/08/22/experts-discover-testosterone-may-be-responsible-for-belly-fat-during-menopause/
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#1 - Oct. 7, 2010, 10:07 p.m.
garyC
Is this for real? Interesting.. would be reading more about this. Thanks for posting! |
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#2 - Oct. 14, 2010, 1:44 p.m.
Anonymous
I recently read the opposite, that women needed testosterone added to their HRT to decrease muscle wasting avoid the increase in abdominal fat deposits. |
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#3 - Dec. 14, 2010, 10:07 a.m.
DrJohnKocka
I don't know any mechanism whereby physiologic replacement doses of testosterone would increase visceral fat in men or women. All the research I have seen shows a mild-moderate decrease in visceral fat with testosterone replacement. The effect may be more pronounced in males because of the higher dose used. I'll be there were confounders in that single study. |
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#4 - Dec. 16, 2010, 12:04 a.m.
smary
Very good. i am really impressed by the author and their thoughts. |
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#5 - Dec. 27, 2010, 1:15 p.m.
The Blend Institute
Anonymous;1146: This is why levels need to be monitored using the lowest effective dose to achieve our desired results.
I believe if too much testosterone is used both men and women are probably aromatizing to estradiol and this is more likely the cause for increased body fat. Too bad many of these studies are geared towards achieving a certain biased result without objectively looking at all the possible consequences. To do a study on testosterone knowing that as we age there is a greater chance of aromatization with HRT mandates that we also measure estradiol. Was this done in the study quoted? I doubt it! |
