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Relationship between testosterone and indexes indicating endothelial function in male coronary heart disease patients
Lu Fu1, Qian-Ping Gao, Jing-Xia Shen
1Cardiovascular Department, First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, No. 23 Youzheng Street, Nangang District, Harbin, China.
Insights
Lower free testosterone (FT) levels in men correlate with poorer endothelial function indicators, including vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intima-media thickness (IMT). This suggests a link between androgen levels and cardiovascular health in men with coronary heart disease (CHD).
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Endocrinology
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a significant health concern in aging men.
- Endothelial dysfunction is a key factor in the development of atherosclerosis and CHD.
- Androgen levels, specifically free testosterone (FT), may play a role in vascular health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between free testosterone (FT) levels and markers of endothelial function in men with coronary heart disease (CHD).
- To compare endothelial function markers between male CHD patients and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 106 men aged 50-70 years was studied, including 51 with CHD.
- Data collected included anthropometrics, blood lipids, blood pressure, free testosterone (FT), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and intima-media thickness (IMT).
- Stepwise linear regression was used to analyze the relationships between FT, VCAM-1, and IMT.
Main Results:
- Male CHD patients exhibited higher weight, total cholesterol, LDL-C, triglycerides, VCAM-1, and IMT compared to controls.
- Free testosterone (FT) levels and peak systolic velocity were lower in CHD patients.
- A significant inverse correlation was found between FT levels and both IMT and VCAM-1 concentration across all participants.
Conclusions:
- Free testosterone (FT) levels are inversely correlated with vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intima-media thickness (IMT).
- These findings suggest that lower FT levels are associated with indicators of endothelial dysfunction in men, particularly those with CHD.
- Androgen status may be a relevant factor in the endothelial health of aging men.
Aim:
To investigate the relationship between androgen level and the indexes indicating endothelial function in male patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).
Methods:
We registered the following data for 106 50-70-year-old men: age, weight, blood lipid, including total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride, whether a smoker, sugar levels, blood pressure, free testosterone (FT), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and the intima-media thickness (IMT) of common carotid artery, common carotid diameter, maximum velocity in systolic phase, minimum velocity in diastolic phase and resistant index. Among the 106 men, 51 were patients with CHD. The relationships between FT level, VCAM-1 concentration and IMT were examined, respectively, using a stepwise linear regression technique among all the 106 men.
Results:
There was no statistical difference in terms of age, blood pressure, whether a smoker, sugar levels, HDL-C, minimum velocity in diastolic phase, resistant index between male CHD patients and controls; whereas results for weight, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, VCAM-1 and IMT of male CHD patients were higher than those of controls; FT level and maximum velocity in systolic phase were lower. It was found that among all the objects, FT level was inversely correlated with IMT and VCAM-1 concentration.
Conclusion:
FT level was inversely correlated with VCAM-1 concentration and IMT which are indicators of endothelial function.
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