Functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA) in women with normal body mass index (BMI): metabolic and hormonal profiles.

OBJECTIVES

To determine metabolic and hormonal profiles in women with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA) with normal body mass index (BMI).

METHODS

In FHA (n = 69) and controls (n = 69), matched for age and BMI lipid, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and insulin (Ins) levels along with hormonal profile were determined.

RESULTS

FHA showed slightly lower FPG (- 8.2%, p = 0.001) contrary to the controls with no differences in lipid profile. In the FHA group, BMI was positively correlated with Ins (r = 0.57, p < 0.001) and negatively with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C; r = - 0.58, p < 0.001). Regarding hormonal profile, FHA showed higher prolactin (PRL; + 61.6%) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH; + 4.0%) levels compared to the controls (all p < 0.05). FHA had higher androgen levels reflected by higher total testosterone (TT; + 22.2%) and 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP; + 88.9%) levels (all p < 0.05) in contrary to the remainder.

CONCLUSION

FHA women with normal BMI present unfavorably altered hormonal profile reflected by hyperandrogenemia and slightly lower, but significant, FPG level. The findings confirm the importance of assessing both metabolic and hormonal panels in FHA women despite normal BMI.