Follicle-stimulating hormone is associated with lipids in postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relation between FSH and lipid levels in postmenopausal women from the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study.

METHODS: Postmenopausal women (n = 588) aged 53 to 73 years and not using hormone therapy were included. The relation between FSH and total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides (TGs) was evaluated using linear regression, adjusting for estradiol, body mass, smoking, and other hormonal and lifestyle factors. The relation between FSH, dyslipidemia, and abnormal lipid levels were also evaluated.

RESULTS: FSH was positively and linearly associated with TC (P = 0.001) and LDL-C (P = 0.01) in all participants, with stronger relations seen in younger compared with older postmenopausal women. FSH was less strongly associated with HDL-C and TG. FSH was not associated with dyslipidemia; however, higher FSH was associated with increased risk of high TC (P = 0.02) and high LDL-C (P = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that higher FSH in postmenopausal women is related to higher levels of both TC and LDL-C.