Endogenous sex hormones and progression of carotid atherosclerosis in elderly men.
BACKGROUND
The burden of atherosclerosis especially afflicts the increasing older segment of the population. Recent evidence has emphasized a protective role of endogenous sex hormones in the development of atherosclerosis in aging men.


RESULTS
We studied the association between endogenous sex hormones and progression of atherosclerosis in 195 independently living elderly men. Participants underwent measurements of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) at baseline in 1996 and again in 2000. At baseline, serum concentrations of testosterone (total and free) and estradiol (total and free E2) were measured. Serum free testosterone concentrations were inversely related to the mean progression of IMT of the common carotid artery after adjustment for age (beta=-3.57; 95% CI, -6.34 to -0.80). Higher serum total and free E2 levels were related to progression of IMT of the common carotid artery after adjustment for age (beta=0.38; 95% CI, -0.11 to 0.86; and beta=0.018; 95% CI, -0.002 to 0.038, respectively). These associations were independent of body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, presence of hypertension and diabetes, smoking, and serum cholesterol levels


CONCLUSIONS
Low free testosterone levels were related to IMT of the common carotid artery in elderly men independently of cardiovascular risk factors.
Muller
Majon
M
Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
van den Beld
Annewieke W
AW
Bots
Michiel L
ML
Grobbee
Diederick E
DE
Lamberts
Steven W J
SW
van der Schouw
Yvonne T
YT
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018450:Disease Progression; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography
D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol