Estrogen deficiency-induced lipid dysregulation in menopause: Mechanisms, metabolic consequences, and therapeutic strategies.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review of mechanisms and therapeutic strategies without systematic review methodology
PubMed 42580603 · doi:10.1016/j.jsbmb.2026.107102
What was done
This narrative review synthesizes existing evidence on the cellular and molecular mechanisms linking estrogen deficiency to lipid dysregulation during menopause. It covers changes in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) metabolism, triglyceride accumulation, lipoprotein lipase activity, hepatic steatosis, and estrogen receptor signaling in adipose tissue and liver, alongside current and emerging interventions (hormone replacement therapy, lifestyle changes, and lipid-lowering therapies).
What was found
The abstract outlines qualitative mechanistic relationships—specifically that estrogen deficiency impairs hepatic lipid metabolism, changes lipoprotein particle composition, increases visceral fat, and promotes systemic inflammation—but reports no original quantitative data, effect sizes, or statistical metrics.
Why it matters
It summarizes the molecular pathophysiology driving cardiovascular risk after menopause, helping frame clinical and pharmacological approaches to postmenopausal dyslipidemia.
Limits
As a narrative review, it lacks a systematic search protocol, risk-of-bias evaluation, and pooled quantitative data. No primary empirical data or study-level sample sizes are provided in the abstract.
Cited by
- contradicts Cholesterol levels rise in perimenopause because the liver continues producing cholesterol to synthesize steroid hormones after the ovaries stop responding.