Endogenous sex steroids and circulating homocysteine in healthy Greek postmenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
The determinants of serum homocysteine in healthy postmenopausal women remain uncertain. The aim of this study was the assessment of the association of endogenous sex steroids with serum homocysteine levels in healthy postmenopausal women not on hormone therapy.


METHODS
484 postmenopausal women aged 43-69 years were studied in a cross-sectional design. Parameters assessed were serum FSH, estradiol, total testosterone, SHBG, Free Androgen Index, delta4-Androstendione, Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, and homocysteine.


RESULTS
Serum FSH correlated positively (r=0.23, p=0.01), while serum estradiol correlated negatively (r=-0.25, p=0.03) with circulating Hcy. This association remained statistically significant after adjustment for age, years since menopause, and BMI. Serum estradiol decreased, while FSH increased linearly with increasing homocysteine quartiles (p=0.04 and p=0.02, respectively). None of the serum androgens assessed correlated with circulating homocysteine.


CONCLUSIONS
Endogenous estrogens and not androgens are related to serum homocysteine values in postmenopausal women. Whether this association has clinical implications remains to be clarified.
Christodoulakos
George E
GE
2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aretaieion Hospital, Athens University Medical School.
Lambrinoudaki
Irene V
IV
Rizos
Demetrios A
DA
Alexandrou
Andreas
A
Kountouris
Apostolos V
AV
Creatsas
George C
GC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006115:Greece; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood*; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D000728:Androgens; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D006710:Homocysteine; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D004958:Estradiol; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone