THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FAT DISTRIBUTION AND CORONARY RISK-FACTORS IN SEDENTARY POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN ON AND OF HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between fat distribution and coronary risk factors (CRF) in sedentary overweight p ostmenopausal women both on and off hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Medical records and information were abstracted from nonsmoking women entering a weight loss program, A total of 33 women on HRT (mean age= 50.12 +/-5.2) and 51 nonusers (mean age=52.52 +/- 7.8) fulfilled subje ct eligibility requirements and were included in the data analysis. Re sults showed a significantly lower waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (p=0.009) and waist (p=0.010) and greater levels of high-density lipoprotein cho lesterol (HDL-C) (p=0.035) in HRT users than in nonusers, After conver ting correlations to standard Z-scores and performing z-tests, the cor relation between total cholesterol (T-Chol) and WHR was significantly greater in nonusers than in HRT users (p=0.038). A multiple regression analysis showed differences between groups in the ability of age and anthropometric variables to predict CRF, Although T-Chol could be pred icted in nonusers (r(2)-0.24; p=0.011), very low-density lipoprotein c holesterol (VLDL-C) and systolic blood pressure (SEP) could be signifi cantly predicted in HRT users only (r(2)=0.28, p=0.055 and r(2)=0.40, p=0.005 for VLDL-C and SBP, respectively), These data suggest that the re are differences between HRT users and nonusers in predictors of CRF , central adiposity, HDL-C, and the relationship between WHR and T-Cho l. It is concluded that the significantly lower levels of central adip osity observed in HRT users may have clinical benefits with regard to CRF.