Low testosterone level is an independent determinant of endothelial dysfunction in men.
We investigated whether a low plasma testosterone level is related to endothelial dysfunction in men with coronary risk factors. One hundred and eighty-seven consecutive male outpatients (mean age+/-SD: 47+/-15 years) who underwent measurement of flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) of the brachial artery using ultrasonography were enrolled. The relationship between plasma hormones and FMD was analyzed. Total and free testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S) were significantly correlated with %FMD (r=0.261, 0.354 and 0.295, respectively; p<0.001), while estradiol and cortisol were not. %FMD in the highest quartile of free testosterone was 1.7-fold higher than that in the lowest quartile. Multiple regression analysis revealed that total and free testosterone were related to %FMD independent of age, body mass index, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus and smoking (beta=0.198 and 0.247, respectively; p<0.01), and were independent of age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose, smoking and nitroglycerin-induced dilation (beta=0.196 and 0.227, respectively; p<0.01). DHEA-S was not significantly related to %FMD in multivariate analysis. In conclusion, a low plasma testosterone level was associated with endothelial dysfunction in men independent of other risk factors, suggesting a protective effect of endogenous testosterone on the endothelium.
Akishita
Masahiro
M
Department of Geriatric Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. akishita-tky@umin.ac.jp
Hashimoto
Masayoshi
M
Ohike
Yumiko
Y
Ogawa
Sumito
S
Iijima
Katsuya
K
Eto
Masato
M
Ouchi
Yasuyoshi
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D014664:Vasodilation
D013739:Testosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate