title: Endogenous sex hormones and progression of carotid atherosclerosis in elderly men.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Majon
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.forename: Annewieke W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: van den Beld
authors.forename: Michiel L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bots
authors.forename: Diederick E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Grobbee
authors.forename: Steven W J
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lamberts
authors.forename: Yvonne T
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: van der Schouw
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol