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Heart, lipids and hormones
Peter Wolf1, Yvonne Winhofer1, Martin Krššák1,2
1Division of Endocrinology and MetabolismDepartment of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Insights
Subtle hormonal changes significantly impact heart function by altering myocardial lipid metabolism and ectopic fat deposition. Understanding these effects is crucial for managing cardiovascular disease in endocrine and metabolic disorders.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Cardiology
- Metabolic Diseases
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of mortality.
- Beyond traditional risk factors, endocrine diseases and hormonal imbalances affect cardiac health.
- Ectopic lipid deposition in the heart is increasingly recognized as a contributor to cardiac dysfunction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the impact of key hormones on cardiac morphology and function.
- To elucidate the role of hormones in myocardial lipid metabolism and substrate utilization.
- To highlight the significance of hormonal changes in endocrine and metabolic diseases for cardiovascular outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent studies on hormones and heart function.
- Focus on insulin, thyroid hormones, growth hormone, and cortisol.
- Analysis of effects on ectopic lipid deposition and cardiac performance.
Main Results:
- Hormonal imbalances alter myocardial lipid metabolism and ectopic fat deposition.
- Changes in cardiac substrate utilization are linked to hormonal status.
- Even minor hormonal shifts can lead to significant alterations in cardiac function.
Conclusions:
- Hormonal regulation is critical for maintaining normal cardiac structure and function.
- Ectopic lipid accumulation, influenced by hormones, contributes to cardiovascular disease.
- Addressing hormonal dysregulation is essential in managing cardiac complications of endocrine and metabolic disorders.
Abstract:
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in general population. Besides well-known risk factors such as hypertension, impaired glucose tolerance and dyslipidemia, growing evidence suggests that hormonal changes in various endocrine diseases also impact the cardiac morphology and function. Recent studies highlight the importance of ectopic intracellular myocardial and pericardial lipid deposition, since even slight changes of these fat depots are associated with alterations in cardiac performance. In this review, we overview the effects of hormones, including insulin, thyroid hormones, growth hormone and cortisol, on heart function, focusing on their impact on myocardial lipid metabolism, cardiac substrate utilization and ectopic lipid deposition, in order to highlight the important role of even subtle hormonal changes for heart function in various endocrine and metabolic diseases.