Human Reproduction, Vol. 17, No. 7, 1906-1913,
July 2002
© 2002 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Salivary progesterone levels and rate of ovulation are significantly lower in poorer than in better-off urban-dwelling Bolivian women
1 Institute for Primary and Preventative Health Care, and Department of Anthropology, Binghamton University (SUNY), Binghamton, NY 13901, USA, 2 Department of Anthropology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK, 3 Department of Bioenergetics, Instituto Boliviano de Biología de Altura, La Paz, Bolivia, 4 Max-Planck-Institut für Gravitationsphysik, Albert-Einstein-Institut, Am Mühlenberg 1, D-14476 Golm, Germany, 5 Computer Services, Binghamton University (SUNY), Binghamton, NY 13901, USA, 6 Centre for Applied Medical Statistics, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Institute of Public Health, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 2SR, UK and 7 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
BACKGROUND: Agriculturalists in less-developed countries (LDC) have lower progesterone levels than urban industrialized populations. However, it is unknown if urban LDC populations are also relatively lower. We tested whether urban Bolivia samples—poorer (Bol-p) and better-off (Bol-b)—have lower progesterone than a Chicago (USA) sample, and whether progesterone and rate of ovulation are lower in Bol-p than in Bol-b. METHODS: Serial salivary samples collected from Bolivians, screened according to strict exclusion criteria during two complete menstrual cycles, were radioimmunoassayed for progesterone; anthropometrics were collected at mid-follicular and mid-luteal phases. RESULTS: Progesterone levels are lower in the Bolivia samples, and higher in the Bol-b than Bol-p; ovulation rate is greater in Bol-b than Bol-p. For only ovulatory cycles, mean-follicular-P (pmol/l), mean-luteal-P (pmol/l), and mean-peak-P (pmol/l) are respectively 65, 142 and 208 in Bol-p; 76, 167 and 232 in Bol-b; and 96, 240 and 330 in Chicago. Principal components representing body-size and progesterone level are positively correlated (r = 0.404, P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Progesterone levels appear to be influenced by chronic and acute ecological conditions, evidenced by the association with body-size and the probability of ovulation respectively. These findings have implications for understanding cancer aetiology, developing population-appropriate hormonal contraceptives, and modelling the evolution and functioning of the reproductive system.
Key words: anthropometrics/cancer risk/ovulation/reproductive ecology/salivary progesterone
8 To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: vvitzthu{at}nsf.gov
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