The most common symptoms during menopausal transition and menopause are vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes & cold sweats). Women with metabolic syndrome (central obesity, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia) are known to be at especially high risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The prevalence of metabolic syndrome increases with menopause and may partially explain the apparent acceleration in CVD after menopause...

Menopause is best defined as the absence of menses for 12 consecutive months. Menstrual history is the most reliable indicator of the postmenopausal state, as specific hormonal measures, such as estradiol (E2) and FSH levels both vary widely in perimenopause during an individual menstrual cycle.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk after menopause

CVD risk increases after menopause, which may be related to the substantial metabolic changes that occur as women transition from premenopause to postmenopause. In many women features of the metabolic syndrome (abdominal adiposity, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia) emerge with estrogen deficiency.

The metabolic syndrome

The metabolic syndrome is estimated to affect approximately 20–30% of the middle-aged population. Postmenopausal status is associated with a 60% increased risk of metabolic syndrome, even after adjusting for confounding variables, such as age, body mass index (BMI), household income, and physical inactivity.

The risk of CVD attributed to metabolic syndrome appears to be especially high in women, and it is estimated that half of all cardiovascular events in women are related to metabolic syndrome.

Effects of menopause on body composition

middle-aged women gain approximately 0.55 kg (∼1 lb)/yr, there does not appear to be an independent effect of menopause on body weight. Prospectively compared women who became postmenopausal to age-matched controls who remained premenopausal and found that the transition to menopause was associated with an increase in the waist-to-hip ratio and total body fat. Visceral fat accumulation is thought by many to be the major determinant of metabolic syndrome.

Effects of menopause on lipid metabolism

High amounts of belly fat are associated with increased insulin resistance, free fatty acid (FFA) levels, and decreased adiponectin. These factors contribute to increased secretion of apolipoprotein B (apo B)-containing particles, leading to hypertriglyceridemia and increased hepatic lipase (HL) activity resulting in a predominance of small dense LDL particles and a reduction in large antiatherogenic HDL 2 particles. A similar pattern of lipid abnormalities emerges with menopause.

Changes in TG with menopause

TG levels increase with the transition through menopause and the increase in TG also appears early in the postmenopausal period. TG increases in middle-aged (between 40–69 yr) women, but not in men. The a Prospective increase in TG levels in women who became postmenopausal during a 6-yr period, whereas there was no change in TG in the similarly aged women who remained either premenopausal or postmenopausal. Increasing TG with menopause may be related to TG levels being highly correlated with increasing abdominal fat content and insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance changes with menopause

Two of the most important pathophysiological components of the metabolic syndrome are increased visceral fat accumulation and insulin resistance. Abdominal obesity is closely associated with increased insulin resistance, compensatory hyperinsulinemia, and increased risk of type 2 diabetes, independent of an individual's total body fat content. reduced insulin sensitivity ( ie higher insulin resistance) in postmenopausal women compared with BMI-matched premenopausal women.

Because menopause can cause several metabolic changes in the body, we recommend that in addition to regular exercise and eating healthy foods, high in fiber and accompanied by vitamin consumption, we should also routinely monitor our metabolic function independently with the Multicarein Meter with the aim of keeping the body healthy. healthy even though they have entered menopause so they can continue to live better. 

For monitoring blood sugar, cholesterol, triglycerides, and uric acid PT Isotekindo Intertama has a special product, namely Multisure GCTU Monitoring System. Multisure GCTU Monitoring System offers a quick and easy way to test for glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, and uric acid in the blood using test strips.

There are features and benefits of the Multisure GCTU Monitoring System:

• Short time testing  Multisure GCTU Monitoring System only takes 5 seconds for the glucose test, 60 seconds for the Cholesterol and Triglycerides test, and 10 seconds for uric acid, so the testing time is efficient
• 4-in-1 parameter: Inspection costs are cheaper & practical directly for 4 tests using Multisure GCTU Monitoring System 
• With up to 1.000 data memory, Multisure GCTU Monitoring System has a large memory capacity making it easy to validate the previous test results
• Multisure GCTU Monitoring System  Equipped with a test strip ejector, Safe to use, there is no need to pull the test strip
• Customizable, The device can be used by men & women are equipped with a correction factor so that the measurement results are accurate using Multisure GCTU Monitoring System.

Altered blood parameters such as high blood glucose, high serum cholesterol, and high serum triglycerides may define a clinical condition known as METABOLIC SYNDROME which can increase CARDIOVASCULAR RISK.

References:

1. Insert Pack Multisure GCTU Monitoring System 
2. Cengiz H, Kaya C, Suzen Caypinar S, Alay I. The Relationship Between Menopausal Symptoms and Metabolic Syndrome in Postmenopausal Women.
3. Lee SW, Jo HH, Kim MR, Kwon DJ, You YO, Kim JH. (2012). Association Between Menopausal Symptoms and Metabolic Syndrome in Postmenopausal Women.