Metabolic Syndrome, BMI, and Polymorphism of Estrogen Receptor-α in Peri- and Post-Menopausal Polish Women

The study aimed to investigate the association between the estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha) polymorphism and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and obesity, as well as the coexistence of MetS and obesity, in peri- and post-menopausal Polish women. The study group consisted of 202 peri-menopausal and 202 post-menopausal women. ER alpha polymorphism: Xba I and Pvu II, MetS, BMI, and serum estrogen concentration were analyzed. MetS was found in 29% of the peri-menopausal women and in 21% of the post-menopausal women. BMI did not significantly differ between the peri- and post-menopausal women (approximate to 42% were normal weight, approximate to 40% were overweight, approximate to 18% and were obese), (p = 0.82). Serum estrogen concentration in the peri-menopausal women was 91 +/- 75 pg/mL, while that in the post-menopausal women was 17 +/- 9. pg/mL, on average. Peri-menopausal women with AA and TT genotypes of the ER alpha polymorphism have a lower risk of obesity and MetS and the co-existence of obesity and MetS, whereas those women with the G or C allele have a higher risk of those health problems.