Impact of micronized progesterone on body weight, body mass index, and glucose metabolism: a systematic review

Abstract

In women, body weight increases with age. Often menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is blamed for enhancing this effect. In recent years, the debate on bioidentical MHT including micronized progesterone (MP) has increased. Among others, the question has been raised of whether MHT containing MP has an impact on body weight and glucose metabolism. Based on a systematic literature review on the impact of MHT containing MP on body weight, body mass index (BMI), and glucose metabolism, the following conclusions can be drawn: estrogens combined with MP (1) either do not change or reduce body weight in normal weight postmenopausal women, (2) do not change BMI in normal and overweight postmenopausal women, (3) do not change or improve fasting serum glucose levels in (non-)diabetic postmenopausal women, (4) do not change or improve fasting serum insulin levels in (non-)diabetic postmenopausal women, and (5) do not have an impact on serum glycated hemoglobin in postmenopausal diabetic women. This beneficial effect is probably mostly due to the estrogen MHT component.

摘要

女性的体重随着年龄的增长而增加。绝经后激素治疗（MHT）通常被归咎于增强这种作用。近年来, 关于生物同质MHT, 包括微粒化孕酮（MP）的争论已经增加。其中, 有人提出含有MP的MHT是否对体重和糖代谢有影响的问题。基于对含有MP的MHT对体重、体重指数（BMI）和糖代谢的影响的系统性文献综述, 可以得出以下结论：雌激素与MP结合（1）不改变或减轻正常体重的绝经后妇女的体重, （2）不改变正常和超重绝经后妇女的BMI, （3）不改变或改善（非）糖尿病绝经后妇女的空腹血糖水平, （4）不改变或改善（非）糖尿病绝经后妇女的空腹血清胰岛素水平, （5）对绝经后糖尿病妇女的血清糖化血红蛋白没有影响。这种有益效果可能主要是由于MHT的雌激素成分。

Keywords:

• Micronized progesterone
• menopause
• body weight
• body mass index
• glucose metabolism
• hormone therapy

Acknowledgement

The authors are grateful for the support of DR. KADE/BESINS Pharma GmbH in helping with ordering the identified publications.

Conflict of interest

P. Stute has been part of a German-speaking expert board funded by DR. KADE/BESINS Pharma GmbH. A. Coquoz and C. Gruetter do not have any conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Source of funding

This publication was not funded.