Female CR hunger during the estrus cycle?

May 31, 2003

Hi All,

The below to me suggested that women may have more trouble keeping to CR

during the specific periods of the estrus cycle. The available PDF also

showed that the leptin, went up from just below 15 to about 20 ng/ml where

the insulin followed about the same kinetics in going from about 60 to 80

pM. Also, the kinetics seemed to follow those of the female hormones when

you consider both estrogen and progesterone.

Cheers, Al.

Eur J Endocrinol 1998 Nov;139(5):528-31

Changes in plasma leptin during the menstrual cycle.

Riad- MG, Jinagouda SD, Sharma A, Boyadjian R, Saad MF.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the plasma concentration of leptin, which is expressed

in ovarian follicles and may have a reproductive function, in healthy women

during the menstrual cycle. DESIGN: This study included nine women with

regular menstrual cycles (mean+/-S.E.M. age 28+/-2 years: body mass index

23.9+/-1.8 kg/m2). From the onset of menses, fasting blood samples were

collected every 1-2 days throughout the menstrual cycle. As a control,

plasma leptin was measured in six postmenopausal women and six men every

other day for 28 days. RESULTS: In menstruating women, plasma leptin

increased from 14.9+/-2.9 ng/ml in the early follicular phase to 20.4+/-4.2

ng/ml (P<0.01) at the midluteal phase and returned to the baseline by the

subsequent menses. In contrast, leptin concentrations did not change

significantly in postmenopausal women or men. The changes in plasma leptin

during the menstrual cycle were not related to changes in sex hormones.

CONCLUSIONS: The cause of the increase in plasma leptin during the late

follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle is not clear. It may be

attributed to augmented adipocyte production of leptin in response to

increased caloric intake or hypothalamic release of neuropeptide Y. or to

release of leptin from mature ovarian follicles. Leptin may have a role in

regulating the menstrual cycle and preparing the body for the metabolic

demands of pregnancy.

PMID: 9849818 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Alan Pater, Ph.D.; Faculty of Medicine; Memorial University; St. 's, NL

A1B 3V6 Canada; Tel. No.: (709) 777-6488; Fax No.: (709) 777-7010; email:

apater@...

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