Serum estrogen metabolites and systolic blood pressure among middle-aged and older women and men.
BACKGROUND
Hypertension is more common among men at younger ages and among women after age 60, suggesting a possible link between endogenous estrogens and systolic blood pressure (SBP). We tested whether serum 17beta-estradiol (E(2)) or any of its metabolites were associated with SBP among middle-aged and older adults.


METHODS
Using a cross-sectional study design, we examined data from a population-based sample of 98 adults living in Cook County, Illinois. Age ranged between 55 and 69 years and body mass index (BMI) ranged between 19.8 and 50.6 kg/m(2). Serum was analyzed for 17beta-E(2) and 14 estrogen metabolites (EMs) using mass spectrometry. SBP was measured using a tonometric device that records a pulse wave at the radial artery. Demographic and health history information were obtained via questionnaires.


RESULTS
Univariate analysis revealed an inverse relationship between SBP and both natural log (ln) 16alpha-hydroxyestrone (OHE(1)) (r = -0.360, P < 0.05) and ln 16-ketoestradiol (ketoE(2)) (r = -0.360, P < 0.05) among women but not men. No significant correlations were found between SBP and 17beta-E(2) in either sex. In multivariate analysis which adjusted for age, race, ethnicity, BMI, and use of cardiovascular medications, ln 16alpha-hydroxyestrone (16alpha-OHE(1)) (B = -5.3, s.e. = 2.1, P < 0.05) and ln 16-ketoE(2) (B = -4.7, s.e. = 1.9, P < 0.05) continued to be negatively associated with SBP among postmenopausal women.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that serum 16alpha-OHE(1) or 16-ketoE(2) may be important for vascular health among postmenopausal women but not among similarly aged men.
Masi
Christopher M
CM
Section of General Internal Medicine and the Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, IL, USA. cmasi@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu
Hawkley
Louise C
LC
Xu
Xia
X
Veenstra
Timothy D
TD
Cacioppo
John T
JT
D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003710:Demography; D004958:Estradiol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006894:Hydroxyestrones / Q000097:blood; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D004967:Estrogens; D006894:Hydroxyestrones; C026702:16-hydroxyestrone; D004958:Estradiol; C003599:16-ketoestradiol