Activity of Autonomic Nervous System, Energy Expenditure and Assessment of Oxidative Stress in Menopause-women Using Hormone Replacement Therapy

Aims: Menopause is a period of significant physiological change that may be associated with increased body weight and obesity-related diseases. Many studies have been carried out to determine influences of estrogen depletion, resting energy expenditure (REE) decline and aging during menopause-related obesity.

Methodology: In the present experiment, REE, body composition, activity of the autonomic nervous system, oxidative stress and food intake were measured in three groups of women: pre-menopause (n=40), post-menopause with hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) (n=40) and post-menopause without HRT (n=40).

Results: In post-menopause women with HRT a significant increase was found in: 1) the sympathetic activity, measured by the power spectral analysis of the heart rate variability; 2) REE, measured by indirect calorimetry; 3) oxidative stress, measured by Free Radical Analytical System 4 (Fras-4) compared to the value of the other two, while fat mass, measured by Body Impedance Analysis (BIA), was reduced in favor of a recovery of free fat mass.

Conclusion: The study emphasizes the important changes due to HRT on various components influencing body weight in menopause-women.