Background: Obesity is known to cause inflammation and alter the levels of cytokines, adipokines and insulin in humans. Our aim was to investigate the relationship of BMI with serum lipid levels, leptin, estradiol, cortisol, insulin and inflammatory cytokines in working perimenopausal women.

Methods: 62 healthy perimenopausal women working in Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar (India) were grouped into three BMI categories: BMI<25 kg/m2 (normal weight), 25 kg/m2≤BMI<30 kg/m2 (overweight) or BMI≥30 kg/m2 (obese). Basic parameters, i.e. blood pressure, lipid profile and fasting blood glucose were monitored among the three categories. Differences in the circulating levels of leptin, insulin, cortisol, estradiol, TNFα, IL-1β and IL-6 were evaluated. Additionally, Western blot analysis for neurological marker GFAP and inflammatory cytokines was also performed.

Results: Blood pressure showed significant increase in the overweight and obese subjects as compared to normal weight women. Serum cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and fasting blood glucose showed trend to increase with BMI. Leptin and TNFα increased significantly in overweight and obese subjects as compared to normal weight group. Insulin, cortisol and IL-6 showed increase only in obese subjects. Level of estradiol declined significantly with increase in BMI whereasIL-1β did not show any difference among the three categories.

Conclusions: The association of overweight and obesity with dyslipidemia, serum leptin, cortisol, insulin and inflammatory cytokines was independent of age and menopausal status and showed direct relationship with BMI values in perimenopausal women.