Because of the heterogeneity and the limited number of studies , there is no sufficient evidence on the potential role of vasomotor symptoms in metabolic health .
However , both high- quality cohort studies , with large study population s and adjustment for multiple confounding variables showed positive associations between vasomotor symptoms and insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus .
These findings suggest that there is an association between vasomotor symptoms and metabolic health outcomes .
The objective of this study was to systematic ally review studies describing the association between vasomotor symptoms and metabolic syndrome , type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance in peri- and postmenopausal women .
Menopausal hot flashes and insulin resistance
Objective Recent data have indicated that menopausal hot flashes may be a determinant for cardiovascular health . Therefore , we studied the impact of hot flashes on insulin resistance , one of the most powerful markers of cardiovascular health , in recently postmenopausal women . Methods We studied 143 recently postmenopausal ( amenorrhea 6 - 36 mo ) healthy and normal-weight women without previous hormone therapy use . The women prospect ively recorded the number and severity of hot flashes for 2 weeks , and a vali date d total symptom score , the hot flash weekly weighted score , was calculated for each woman . Insulin resistance was assessed from  fasting blood levels of glucose and insulin with the homeostasis model assessment . Results In 12 women , the assessment of insulin ( n = 11 ) or glucose ( n = 1 ) failed , and they were excluded from further analysis . Thus , hot flashes were absent in 19 , mild in 32 , moderate in 27 , and severe in 53 women . The levels of glucose or insulin , or HOMA showed no differences between these groups , nor was insulin resistance related to the number or severity of hot flashes or to the levels of C-reactive protein or sex hormone – binding globulin . Overall , insulin resistance showed a positive association with body mass index ( mean difference , 0.058 ; 95 % CI , 0.015 - 0.102 ; P = 0.009 ) and a negative association with level of estradiol ( mean difference , −0.002 ; 95 % CI , −0.003 to −0.001 ; P = 0.009 ) . Conclusions Insulin resistance may not be involved in hot flash – related changes in cardiovascular health . However , because of the small sample size , these findings need to be interpreted with caution
Because of the heterogeneity and the limited number of studies , there is no sufficient evidence on the potential role of vasomotor symptoms in metabolic health .
However , both high- quality cohort studies , with large study population s and adjustment for multiple confounding variables showed positive associations between vasomotor symptoms and insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus .
These findings suggest that there is an association between vasomotor symptoms and metabolic health outcomes .
The objective of this study was to systematic ally review studies describing the association between vasomotor symptoms and metabolic syndrome , type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance in peri- and postmenopausal women .