title: Factors influencing endothelial function in healthy pre- and post-menopausal women of the EU-RISC study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We studied the impact of lifestyle, body composition, different insulin sensitivity indices and the first insulin response in healthy pre- and post-menopausal women with a low cardiovascular risk profile (the EU-RISC study, 'Relationship between Insulin Sensitivity and Cardiovascular Disease' (n = 51, 47 ± 4 years, body mass index 23.6 ± 3.7 kg/m(2), waist girth 79.2 ± 10.3 cm) on endothelial function (flow mediated arterial dilatation (FMD)), an early marker for atherosclerosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Waist circumference (p = 0.06), tobacco consumption (p = 0.02) and leucocyte count (p = 0.09) were inversely related with FMD in both pre- and post-menopausal women. Neither insulin sensitivity nor first insulin response indices were correlated with FMD. In pre-menopausal women (n = 24), waist (p < 0.02), waist-to-hip ratio (p < 0.02), HDL cholesterol (p < 0.01) and smoking habits (p < 0.03) were significantly correlated with endothelial function. In postmenopausal women (n = 27) age (r = -0.17, p = 0.04) was related with FMD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Smoking and waist circumference, a simple marker of visceral adiposity, were related with endothelial function in healthy pre- and post-menopausal women.
authors: Institute for Metabolic Research, University Frankfurt am Main, Germany. t.konrad@em.uni-frankfurt.de
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Konrad
authors: Frances
authors: F
authors: Bär
authors: Frank
authors: F
authors: Schneider
authors: Stefanie
authors: S
authors: Franke
authors: Hansjosef
authors: H
authors: Böhles
authors: Gert
authors: G
authors: Vetter
authors: Beverly
authors: B
authors: Balkau
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D017697:Premenopause; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D014664:Vasodilation; D055105:Waist Circumference; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin