Although influenced by calorie intake to a certain extent, visceral fat (belly fat) accumulation also results from estrogen deficiency due to menopause. During the menopausal transition many women experience an imbalance of sympathetic and parasympathetic activity. Elevated sympathetic activity affects vascular and cardiac contractile function and can results in symptoms such as hot flashes and heart palpitations.
Sympathetic over stimulation and catecholamines can oppose the effects of insulin. The role of insulin is to transport and regulate glucose. Insulin lowers blood sugar by enhancing membrane transport of glucose into muscle cells, white blood cells, and connective tissue. An absence of, insufficiency of, or decreased sensitivity of cells to insulin results in an altered pattern of glucose and fat metabolism. High insulin levels prevent the body from being able to burn or utilize body fat for energy. Fat is then stored which is recognized as weight gain.
Sources:
Ascorbic Acid Selectively Improves Large Elastic Artery Compliance in Postmenopausal Women
Kerrie L. Moreau; Kathleen M. Gavin; Angela E. Plum; Douglas R. Seals
Hypertension. 2005;45:1107.
Dysregulation of the Autonomic Nervous System Can Be a Link between
Visceral Adiposity and Insulin Resistance
Stina Lindmark, Lars Lönn, Urban Wiklund
Obesity Research 13:717-728 (2005)
Eleveated Sympathetic Activity may Promote insulin Resistance Syndrome by Activating Alpha 1 Adrenergic Receptors on Adipocytes.
McCarty MF/ Pantox Laboratories, San Diego,CA 20109
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