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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2015 Jan 1.
Published in final edited form as: Front Neuroendocrinol. 2013 Aug 29;35(1):8–30. doi: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2013.08.001

Figure 3. Estrogen regulation of whole-body metabolism.

Figure 3

Estrogen receptors are expressed throughout peripheral systems involved in metabolism. Estrogen affects adipose tissue distribution and risk of obesity, insulin resistance and risk of diabetes, and concentration of the adipokines leptin, ghrelin, and adiponectin. Loss of estrogen at menopause leads to significant changes in many of these systems, which can be stabilized with the use of hormone therapy. Adverse metabolic profiles, e.g. type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, can increase risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.