Obesity is correlated to risk for breast cancer after menopause and new study suggests that this adiposity is related to the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH).

It is only an observational study, in the exploratory section and not causal, but the authors say their examination of  hormone levels from samples stored in a Women’s Health Initiative biobank is the largest study of its kind in older women.

A hormone released by the pituitary gland, FSH plays an important role in female development and reproduction by stimulating growth of the ovarian follicle before ovulation.

“Interestingly, later in life, in the years before menopause and before the drop in estrogen occurs, FSH levels start to rise,” said Dr. Heather Ochs-Balcom, PhD, associate professor of epidemiology at the University at Buffalo. “It is during this time that women notice changes in their body, such as abdominal obesity. Previously, the drop in estrogen has been blamed, but there may be an independent, or separate, role for FSH.

“Our hypothesis is that follicle stimulating hormone is driving weight gain, and the weight gain increases the risk of breast cancer."

“We hope that our work can help us understand why women develop abdominal obesity and then in the longer term, how to prevent it. Preventing obesity is the ultimate goal and may in turn prevent cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other obesity-related cancers. We hope that our work can help us understand why women develop abdominal obesity and then in the longer term, how to prevent it. Preventing obesity is the ultimate goal and may in turn prevent cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other obesity-related cancers.”