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Published on: August 13, 2019
Discriminating Between the Roles of Androgens and Estrogens in Cardiovascular Disease
Insights
Cardiovascular disease incidence differs between sexes, challenging the notion that estrogen is protective. Current research suggests neither estrogen nor androgen levels fully explain these cardiovascular disparities.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology and Cardiovascular Science
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) exhibits significant sex-based incidence differences.
- Historically, estrogens were hypothesized to offer cardiovascular protection to women.
- Existing theories inadequately explain the observed sex disparities in CVD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between endogenous sex hormone levels and cardiovascular risk.
- To evaluate the role of estrogens and androgens in atherosclerosis progression.
- To critically assess current understanding of hormonal influences on sex-based CVD differences.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of correlations between endogenous estrogen and androgen levels with CVD risk factors.
- Examination of atherosclerosis progression indexes in relation to hormone levels.
- Review of studies on exogenous estrogen and androgen treatments and their cardiovascular effects.
Main Results:
- Endogenous estrogen levels do not consistently correlate with reduced cardiovascular risk or atherosclerosis.
- Endogenous androgen levels show varied, often opposite, effects in males and females regarding cardiovascular health.
- Exogenous hormone therapies (estrogens and androgens) do not align with initial scientific expectations for CVD outcomes.
Conclusions:
- The protective role of estrogens in female cardiovascular health is not supported by current evidence.
- Neither estrogens nor androgens, when considered in isolation, adequately explain the sex-based differences in cardiovascular disease.
- Further research is needed to understand the complex interplay of hormones and sex in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
Abstract:
Cardiovascular disease shows a distinct difference in incidence rates between men and women, a fact that has been known for many years. While initial theories supported that this could be attributed to the protective effect of estrogens in women, attempts to correlate endogenous estrogen levels with cardiovascular risk factors and the progression of atherosclerosis-related indexes indicate otherwise. Similarly, endogenous androgen levels seem to correlate with opposite effects in males and females, whereas exogenous treatment with either androgens or estrogens fails to correspond to scientific expectations entirely. A brief discussion of the merits and pitfalls of placing either estrogens or androgens alone at the root of the problem shows that current understanding is inadequate concerning this major anthropological issue, as it refers to the primary global mortality and morbidity cause.
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