Keywords
Estrogens
Breast cancer
Menopause
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Abstract
Objective: To analyze the impact of obesity on estrogen regulation and its relationship with breast cancer risk in premenopausal and postmenopausal women, considering physiopathological, metabolic, and hormonal differences between these periods. Literature review: Obesity influences estrogen regulation and breast cancer risk differently according to menopausal status. In postmenopausal women, adipose tissue becomes the main source of estrogens, promoting peripheral hyperestrogenism and increased mammary proliferative stimulus. In premenopausal women, excess adiposity may impair ovarian function, being associated with a lower overall risk of hormone-dependent tumors; however, metabolic disturbances and central adiposity are related to more aggressive tumor subtypes. Final considerations: Obesity exerts a significant impact on estrogen regulation and breast cancer risk, with distinct effects between premenopausal and postmenopausal women. While in the postmenopausal period obesity-related peripheral hyperestrogenism consistently contributes to an increased risk of hormone-dependent tumors, in premenopause this relationship is more complex and modulated by hormonal and metabolic factors as well as body fat distribution.
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