Menopause effects on heart health and metabolism
Cardiometabolic Consequences of the Loss of Ovarian Function
This project looks at how loss of ovarian hormones during menopause changes belly fat, blood vessel health, and metabolism in women.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11163369 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You may be asked to join tests that temporarily lower ovarian hormones or, in some cases, receive estradiol add-back to see how hormone changes affect your body. The team measures blood vessel function with brachial artery flow-mediated dilation, images abdominal fat to track visceral adiposity, and collects blood samples to study metabolic and inflammatory pathways such as the tryptophan–kynurenine system. Parallel lab and animal work helps the researchers trace the biological mechanisms behind the human findings. The combined human and laboratory approach aims to link hormone loss to increases in visceral fat and declines in vascular health.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Women who are perimenopausal, postmenopausal, or premenopausal women undergoing temporary ovarian suppression and who can attend clinical visits would be the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Men, children, and people without ovarian hormone changes or those not eligible for hormone-related procedures are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify why menopause increases belly fat and vascular aging and point to treatments or hormone strategies to reduce heart disease risk in women.
How similar studies have performed: Prior SCORE work has shown that estradiol can reverse short-term endothelial dysfunction and prevent increases in visceral fat, while the focus on the tryptophan–kynurenine pathway is a newer angle.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado Denver — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Moreau, Kerrie — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Moreau, Kerrie
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.