Age but not menopausal status is linked to lower resting energy expenditure

Abstract

ABSTRACTContextIt remains uncertain whether aging before late adulthood and menopause are associated with fat-free mass and fat mass–adjusted resting energy expenditure (REEadj).ObjectivesWe investigated whether REEadjdiffers between middle-aged and younger women and between middle-aged women with different menopausal statuses. We repeated the age group comparison between middle-aged mothers and their daughters to partially control for genotype. We also explored whether serum estradiol and follicle-stimulating hormone concentrations explain REEadjin midlife.MethodsWe divided 120 women, including 16 mother–daughter pairs, into age groups; group I (n= 26) consisted of participants aged 17–21, group II (n= 35) of those aged 22–38 and group III (n= 59) of those aged 41–58 years. The women in group III were further categorized as pre- or perimenopausal (n= 19), postmenopausal (n= 30) or postmenopausal hormone therapy users (n= 10). REE was assessed using indirect calorimetry, body composition using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and hormones using immunoassays.ResultsThe REEadjof group I was 126 kcal/d (95% CI: 93–160) higher than that of group III, and the REEadjof group II was 88 kcal/d (95% CI: 49–127) higher. Furthermore, daughters had a 100 kcal/d (95% CI: 63–138 kcal/d) higher REEadjthan their middle-aged mothers (allP< 0.001). In group III, REEadjwas not lower in postmenopausal women and did not vary by sex hormone concentrations.ConclusionsWe demonstrated that REEadjdeclines with age in women before late adulthood, also when controlling partially for genetic background, and that menopause may not contribute to this decline.