Tivesten A, Hulthe J, Wallenfeldt K, Wikstrand J, Ohlsson C, Fagerberg B
Circulating Estradiol is an Independent Predictor of Progression of Carotid Artery Intima-Media Thickness in Middle-Aged Men. [JOURNAL ARTICLE]
J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2006 Aug 29.
Context: Estrogen treatment of men with prostate cancer is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality; however, the role of endogenous estrogen levels for atherosclerotic disease in men is unknown.
Objective: To determine whether endogenous serum estradiol levels predict the progression of carotid artery intima-media thickness in men. Design, Setting and
Participants: Population-based, prospective cohort study (the Atherosclerosis and Insulin Resistance (AIR) study) conducted in Göteborg, Sweden among 313 Caucasian men without cardiovascular or other clinically overt diseases. Carotid artery intima-media thickness, an index of preclinical atherosclerosis, was measured by ultrasound at baseline (58 yr of age) and after 3 yr of follow-up. Serum sex hormone levels and cardiovascular risk factors (body-mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, systolic blood pressure, serum triglycerides, plasma c-peptide and smoking status) were assessed at study entry. Intervention: -- Main Outcome Measures: Association between baseline total and free estradiol levels and progression of carotid intima-media thickness over 3 yr with adjustments for cardiovascular risk factors.
Results: In univariate analyses, both total and free estradiol levels at baseline were positively associated with the annual change in intima-media thickness. In linear regression models including estradiol and cardiovascular risk factors, LDL and HDL cholesterol and estradiol were identified as independent predictors of progression of carotid artery intima-media thickness (total estradiol beta=0.187, P = 0.001 and free estradiol beta=0.183, P = 0.003).
Conclusions: Circulating estradiol is a predictor of progression of carotid artery intima-media thickness in middle-aged men. Further studies are needed to investigate the role of endogenous estradiol for incident cardiovascular disease events.
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