title: The human female heart incorporates glucose more efficiently than the male heart.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oestrogen is known to play a cardioprotective role in cardiovascular diseases, as demonstrated in a number of animal studies. However, few human studies have investigated sex-based differences with regard to cardiac glucose uptake using (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Therefore, we evaluated healthy male and female subjects who underwent FDG-PET/CT examination to determine whether there was a sex-related difference in cardiac glucose uptake with age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In females, the prevalence of maximal FDG uptake (PET score 2) demonstrated a convex pattern with ageing, and it peaked at age 51-60 years in the females, gradually decreasing to a minimum at age >70 years. In contrast, the prevalence of maximal FDG uptake by age in males was a mirror image of that in females, i.e. it formed a concave pattern with a nadir at 61-70 years, followed by an increase in the prevalence. These findings suggest that female hearts depend more on glucose as an energy substrate as they age, however, efficient glucose uptake is attenuated with increasing age. In contrast, the male heart sustains its glucose uptake capacity at age >70 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This characteristic sex-based difference in cardiac glucose uptake might be related to the female predominance of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Control, Kochi Medical School, Nankoku, Japan. Electronic address: kakinuma@kochi-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yoshihiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kakinuma
authors.forename: Shoshiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Munenobu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nogami
authors.forename: Yoshitaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kumon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005947:Glucose
keywords: FDG–PET/CT; Glucose uptake; Heart; Takotsubo cardiomyopathy