GALACTOSE CONSUMPTION, METABOLISM, AND FOLLICLE-STIMULATING-HORMONE CONCENTRATIONS IN WOMEN OF LATE REPRODUCTIVE AGE

Objective: To test the hypothesis that high galactose consumption and low activity of galactose-1-phosphate uridyl transferase (transferase) is associated with early ovarian senescence among nongalactosemic wom en. Design: Cross-sectional study. Data collection consisted of a self -administered questionnaire with sections on diet (food frequency data to measure galactose consumption), reproductive, and medical historie s. One blood sample was collected to measure FSH and transferase activ ity; FSH was used as a measure of ovarian senescence. Among women who were having menstrual periods at least every 8 weeks, the blood sample was drawn in the early follicular phase (days 2 to 4) of a menstrual cycle. Participants: Two hundred ninety-five women volunteers ages 38 to 49 years who had not had a hysterectomy or oophorectomy were recrui ted through posters and advertisements. Main Outcome Measure: Serum FS H concentrations. Results: Controlling for age, smoking, and body mass , transferase activity and FSH were unrelated. However, FSH levels wer e 29% higher (95% confidence intervals, 9% to 52%) among women who rep orted consuming greater than or equal to 6 g galactose/d. Conclusion: These data do not support the hypothesis that low transferase activity represents a genetic predisposition for early ovarian senescence, as measured by FSH levels in women ages 38 to 49 years. However, the hypo thesized positive association between galactose consumption and FSH wa s supported.