Sistematični literaturni pregled vpliva menstrualnega cikla na raven glukoze in holesterola v krvi

Sebanc, Natalija (author), Karas Kuželički, Nataša (mentor), Cvetko, Filip (comentor)

V prizadevanju za napredovanje osebne medicine ima temeljnega pomena razumevanje človeške fiziologije. Čeprav je razumevanje celotnega spektra človeške fiziologije kompleksen izziv, še posebej, ko se uporablja za posameznike, je to ključen korak pri razvoju osebne zdravstvene oskrbe. Raziskovanje ženskih hormonov, reproduktivnega cikla in njihovega morebitnega vpliva na vsakdanje življenje bi bil velik korak naprej. Cilj te sistematične raziskave je preučiti, ali lahko prihaja do nihanj ravni glukoze in holesterola med različnimi fazami menstrualnega cikla. Za odgovor na to vprašanje smo izvedli sistematični pregled obstoječe literature. Iskanje smo opravili v podatkovnih bazah, kot sta PubMed in Google Scholar, s precizno oblikovanimi iskalnimi poizvedbami. Naši kriteriji za izbor so se osredotočili na študije, ki vključujejo meritve krvnih biomarkerjev in njihovo povezavo z menstrualnim ciklom. Posebej smo se osredotočili na zdrave ženske z rednim menstrualnim ciklom, brez znanih kroničnih bolezni, ter brez hormonske terapije. Kvaliteto študij smo ocenili z standardiziranim kriterijem za opazovalne študije. Rezultati našega pregleda so razkrili 18 nasprotujočih si študij glede vpliva menstrualnega cikla na ravni glukoze v krvi. Čeprav obstaja potencialna povezava preko medsebojnega delovanja spolnih hormonov in inzulina, večina študij opaža neodvisno korelacijo ravni inzulina, vezave na receptorje ter funkcije, ki bi lahko vplivale na ravni glukoze. Trditev trenutno nima zadostne znanstvene podpore zaradi nekonsistentnih rezultatov med študijami. Po drugi strani je 15 študij, ki so preučevale učinke menstrualnega cikla na ravni holesterola, pokazalo večjo enotnost. Estrogen in progesteron se zdita pomembna v presnovnih poteh, ki vključujejo HDL in LDL. Ravni holesterola se mesečno spreminjajo v odzivu na spremembe ravni spolnih hormonov. Med raziskovanjem za to sistematično raziskavo smo opazili pomanjkanje dobro izvedenih študij na to temo. Močno zagovarjamo nadaljnje raziskovanje vpliva menstrualnega cikla na pogosto uporabljene diagnostične označevalce. Če bomo lahko ugotovili, da menstrualni cikel resnično vpliva na druge zdravstvene označevalce, bomo lahko to znanje uporabili za izboljšanje bolj osebne zdravstvene oskrbe za ženske.

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: menstrualni cikel, glukoza, holesterol, HDL, LDL
• Work type: Master's thesis/paper
• Organization: FFA - Faculty of Pharmacy
• Year: 2023
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-153167
• Publication date in RUL: 20.12.2023

Secondary language

• Language: English
• Title: Systematic literature review of menstrual cycle impact on blood glucose and cholesterol profiles

Abstract

In the pursuit of advancing personalized medicine, in-depth research and understanding of human physiology are fundamental. While comprehending the entire spectrum of human physiology is a complex task, especially when applied to individuals, it is a crucial step in advancing personalised healthcare. Research into female hormones, the reproductive cycle, and their potential impact on daily life has been a step forward. The aim of this systematic review is to investigate on whether fluctuations in glucose and cholesterol levels can occur during the different phases of the menstrual cycle. To address this question, we devised a rigorous search strategy to identify relevant studies for inclusion in the systematic review. We searched databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar using precisely formulated search queries. Our selection criteria focused on studies involving blood biomarker measurements and their association with the menstrual cycle. Specifically, we focused on healthy eumenorrheic women without known chronic diseases, and not undergoing hormonal therapy. We evaluated the quality of the studies using the standardized checklist for the observational studies. The results of our review revealed 18 conflicting studies concerning the influence of the menstrual cycle on blood glucose levels. Although there may be a potential link through the interplay of sex hormones and insulin, the majority of studies noted an independent correlation of insulin levels, receptor binding, and function that could affect glucose levels. The claim currently lacks sufficient scientific support due to the inconsistent results across studies. On the other hand, 15 studies examining the effects of the menstrual cycle on cholesterol levels displayed greater consensus. Estrogen and progesterone appear to play a significant role in metabolic pathways involving HDL and LDL. Levels of cholesterol seem to fluctuate monthly in response to changes in sex hormone levels. Throughout the research for this systematic review, we observed a scarcity of well-conducted studies on this topic. We strongly advocate for further exploration of the menstrual cycle's impact on commonly used diagnostic markers. If we can establish that the menstrual cycle does indeed influences other health markers, we can use this knowledge to enhance more personalized medical care for women.

• Keywords: menstrual cycle, glucose, cholesterol, HDL, LDL