Energy metabolism in resting and postprandial states might not be influenced by menopausal stage in women.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional comparative observational study
PubMed 41968000 · doi:10.1016/j.numecd.2026.104637
What was done
The study compared energy expenditure and substrate oxidation across 64 women stratified by menopausal status: 21 premenopausal (38.9 ± 5.0 years), 22 perimenopausal (49.5 ± 3.8 years), and 21 postmenopausal (55.4 ± 3.7 years). Body composition (fat mass and fat-free mass [FFM]) was evaluated using DXA, and physical activity was monitored by accelerometry. Indirect calorimetry measured resting (20 min) and postprandial (3 h after a calibrated meal) energy expenditure and substrate oxidation rates, expressed in absolute terms and normalized to FFM. The thermic effect of food (TEF) was calculated.
What was found
No significant differences in resting or postprandial energy metabolism were found across menopausal groups. TEF was significantly higher in perimenopausal compared to premenopausal women (p = 0.03), with no other intergroup differences. FFM positively correlated with energy expenditure and substrate utilization at rest and postprandially (p = 0.049 to p < 0.001). Postmenopausal women exhibited an altered cardiometabolic profile compared to pre- and perimenopausal groups (p < 0.001). Specific metabolic rate figures were not provided in the abstract.
Why it matters
These results suggest that changes in resting and postprandial metabolic rates around menopause are primarily driven by body composition (fat-free mass) and activity rather than menopausal stage per se.
Limits
The cross-sectional design precludes causal assessment across the menopausal transition. The sample size was small (21–22 women per group), indirect calorimetry was limited to 3 hours postprandial, and hormone levels or exact nutritional baseline data were not reported in the abstract.
Cited by
- supports Studies demonstrate that metabolism does not slow down during menopause.