Celecoxib Inhibition of Aromatase Expression and Inflammation in Adipose Tissue of Obese Postmenopausal Women

This study seeks to examine how effective the celebrex may be in reducing inflammation, crown-like structures in fat tissue, the enzyme aromatase, PGE-M in the urine and estrogen in blood and urine. Volunteer subjects will be expected to stay in the hospital for about 2 weeks taking Celebrex for approximately 10 days while eating a diet similar to what they consumed before coming into the hospital for the study.

Inclusion criteria

• Postmenopausal woman defined as: 24 consecutive months without a menstrual period and currently not taking any medication known to induce amenorrhea.
• Serum estradiol < 20 pg/mL
• Body Mass Index of 35-50
• Stable weight defined as (+/- 5 %) of body weight for at least three months
• 40-70 years of age
• Fluent in English

Exclusion criteria

• Known hypersensitivity to celecoxib or sulfonamides
• Known peptic ulcer disease
• Hypertension BP > 150/90 (on 2 occasions after resting)
• Fasting blood glucose > 165 mg/dL
• HIV positive
• Screening creatinine > 2X upper limit of normal
• Screening LFT results > 2x upper limit of normal
• Smokers (or stopped < 3 months ago)
• Framingham risk score > 15
• Evidence of active coronary disease by history and/or EKG
• Subjects who consume 25 grams of soy protein/day or more than 45 mg of isoflavones/day, for subjects who consume this amount of soy, they may stop for 14 days prior to admission
• Currently taking NSAIDS, aspirin, (if > once a week, stopped <30 days ago).
• Consuming > 3 servings of fish or seafood/week
• Currently taking fish oil, omega-3 supplements or other herbal supplements that exceed GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) levels, (if currently taking fish oil/omega-3 supplements, there must be a 30 day washout period)
• Current use of anti-coagulants
• Currently taking any weight control medication
• Currently taking thioridazine
• Currently taking lithium
• Currently taking any estrogen/progesterone hormones including vaginal cream, e-string, or vaginal tablets
• Currently taking any medication that can alter fat stores as determined by the principal investigator
• History of Inflammatory Bowel Disease or other chronic inflammatory disorders
• History of any malignancy other than non-melanoma skin cancer in the past 5 years
• History of any bleeding disorder
• History of cardiovascular disease
• Diagnosis of asthma
• Any medical, psychological or social condition that, in the opinion of the Investigator, would jeopardize the health or well-being of the participant during any study procedures or the integrity of the data.