[Sex hormones, HDL cholesterol and other lipoproteins in older males].
The associations between sex hormones and cardiovascular risk factors in men are controversial. It is well known that testosterone level declines with age and this phenomenon is associated with increased incidence of cardiovascular disease in men. Elevated levels of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol together with low HDL cholesterol are the important risk factors of coronary heart disease. THE AIM OF STUDY was to investigate the relationships between sex hormones and plasma lipids in aging males.


METHODS
The study group comprised 107 males over 50 years old.


RESULTS
A significant positive correlation was found between testosterone (T) and HDL-cholesterol (r=0.251; p<0.01). Estradiol level was inversely correlated with total cholesterol (r=-0.204; p<0.05). Interestingly, the older age of subjects was associated with increased levels of SHBG (r=0.28; p<0.01) and decreased free testosterone index (T/SHBG) (r=-0.423; p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
These data support relationship between sex hormones and plasma lipids and suggest that a low testosterone concentration in aging males may be important in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.
Barud
Wojciech
W
Katedra i Klinika Chorób Wewnetrznych Akademii Medycznej w Lublinie. wojbar@panaceum.am.lublin.pl
Palusiński
Robert
R
Piotrowska-Swirszcz
Anna
A
Ostrowski
Stanisław
S
Makaruk
Bogusław
B
D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol