The Effect of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) on
Leptin Level and Bady Mass Index (BMI) in Postmenopausal Women

Nurcihan K. HASÇELİK, Sevtap H. KILIÇ, Özlem ŞENGÜL, Utku ÖZCAN, Sertaç BATIOĞLU
Ankara-Turkey

OBJECTIVE: Comparison of the effects of oral or transdermal HRT (estrogen or estrogen+progesterone ) on serum leptin levels and Body Mass Index (BMI) in postmenopausal patients
STUDY DESIGN: 116 Postmenopausal women were included in this prospective randomized study. Firstly the patients were grouped into natural menopause, surgical menopause and control group with no HRT. Oral or transdermal estrodiol hemihydrates or estrodiol hemihydrates+natural progesterone containing HRT were given to study groups. According to the route and type of HRT the patients were grouped into four study groups and one control group, totally five groups. BMI and serum leptin, estrogen and progesterone levels were evaluated before treatment and after six months of treatment.
RESULTS: There was a positive correlation between BMI and leptin in all groups (p<0.05) Before and after treatment leptin levels were not statistically different in the four study groups (p>0.05).
CONCLUSION: We confirm the positive correlation of BMI and leptin again and we demonstrate that neither route of HRT nor the content of estrogen and progesterone affects leptin levels.
(Gynecol Obstet Reprod Med 2005; 11:183-188)

Key Words: Leptin, Menopause, Hormone replacement therapy