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.
|