Why Menopause Might Affect Heart and Metabolism Risk

After menopause, many women notice changes in their body that go beyond hot flashes. Research on mice shows these changes could link to a hormone-like substance called asprosin. After removing ovaries to mimic menopause in mice, scientists found that asprosin levels jumped higher in blood and fat tissue. This increase came alongside common postmenopausal struggles like extra weight, stiffer arteries, and signs of metabolic syndrome. The study didn’t just measure asprosin in the mice. It also tested whether this substance could tighten blood vessels directly. Using lab tools, researchers confirmed that asprosin causes arteries to constrict more than usual. That’s important because stiff, narrow arteries are early warning signs of heart disease. The findings suggest asprosin might not just be a side effect of menopause but could actively contribute to these health risks.Not every detail from the mouse study will apply to humans. Still, the work opens new questions about how fat tissue interacts with blood vessels during hormonal shifts. Earlier studies have shown that postmenopausal women often see more body fat around the midsection. This fat, in turn, releases various signals that may worsen heart and metabolism health. Asprosin appears to be one of those signals that deserves closer attention. The takeaway isn’t that menopause automatically leads to heart disease. Instead, this research hints that certain fat-related hormones could become more active after menopause and push the body toward riskier conditions. Scientists now need to explore whether similar patterns appear in women. If so, asprosin might become a useful marker for tracking early changes in heart and metabolic health.