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Nutritional Epidemiology

Fiber Intakes and Anthropometric Measures are Predictors of Circulating Hormone, Triglyceride, and Cholesterol Concentrations in the Women's Health Trial¹

Department of Economics, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204-5019

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: bhargava{at}uh.edu.

The unhealthy eating patterns and obesity among women in the U.S. are indicated by changes in biomarkers, such as insulin, lipoproteins, and estradiol, that are risk factors for breast cancer and cardiovascular diseases. This article models the inter-relations among diet, serum insulin, estradiol, and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) concentrations, plasma LDL and HDL cholesterol, and net triglyceride concentrations, using the data at baseline and 12 mo on 379 and 615 postm enopausal women in the Control and Intervention groups, respectively, of the Women's Health Trial: Feasibility Study in Minority Populations. Subjects in the Intervention group received detailed advice over a period of 1 y for reducing fat intakes and increasing the consumption of whole grains and fruits and vegetables. The main findings were that there were significant differences between the Control and Intervention groups in the changes from baseline to 12 mo in LDL and HDL cholesterol and SHBG concentrations. Second, using a comprehensive random effects modeling framework, the ratio of fiber to energy intake was significantly associated (P < 0.05) with lower insulin and triglyceride levels, and with a higher HDL cholesterol concentration in the Intervention group. Third, the subjects' waist-to-hip ratio and BMI were significantly associated with insulin, SHBG, LDL and HDL cholesterol, and triglyceride concentrations. Fourth, insulin levels were significantly negatively associated with SHBG and HDL cholesterol, and positively associated with LDL cholesterol, triglyceride, and estradiol concentrations. Overall, weight loss, especially around the waist, and increased fiber intakes are likely to be beneficial for lipid, cholesterol, and hormone profiles of U.S. women.