The influence of tibolone upon serum leptin levels in post-menopausal women

Objective: To estimate serum leptin levels in post-menopausal women, to rel ate these to the duration of the post-menopausal period, and to body mass i ndex (BMI), and to assess the influence of tibolone on them. Methods: Fifte en women (age 49-64 years) were included. Three groups were studied: I, tho se with normal BMI taking tibolone; II, those with a raised BMI taking tibo lone. and III, a group with raised BMI not laking tibolone. Blood samples w ere drawn before and 1, 2, 6, 9 and 12 months after the initiation of tibol one or, in group III, after the start of the study. Results: Serum leptin c oncentrations were high in all women with abnormal BMI, Long-term tibolone administration did not have any significant effect on serum leptin concentr ations. There was no correlation between serum leptin levels and the age an d the duration of post-menopausal period. There was a high positive correla tion between serum leptin levels and BMI values. Conclusions: BMI values af fect serum leptin concentrations but long-term tibolone administration does not seem to have any effect on serum leptin levels. (C) 2001 Elsevier Scie nce Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.