Why women live longer than men: the biologic mechanism of the sex differential in longevity.
1. Exogenous sex steroids appear to influence lipoproteins in a manner that is a caricature of the effects of endogenous sex steroids: Estrogens raise HDL (selectively HDL2) and lower LDL; Androgens lower HDL (selectively HDL2), while raising LDL. 2. Exogenous sex steroids are likely to affect LDL metabolism via effects on the LDL receptor; Estrogens increase LDL receptor activity (in non-human species at both the hepatic cellular and mRNA levels, though this is yet to be confirmed in humans); ??Androgens decrease LDL receptor activity (yet to be tested in either human or non-human species). 3. Exogenous sex steroids appear to alter HDL levels predominantly via modulation of HDL catabolism; Estrogens retard HDL catabolism (33) (and may also increase apo A-I synthesis and HDL production); Androgens accelerate HDL catabolism (30). 4. Modulation of HDL (and possibly LDL) metabolism by sex steroids may be mediated by alterations in hepatic triglyceride lipase (HTGL) activity.
Hazzard
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WR
Department of Internal Medicine, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC.
Applebaum-Bowden
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008136:Longevity; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014481:United States
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL