Endogenous sex steroids and circulating homocysteine in healthy Greek postmenopausal women.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE:
The determinants of serum homocysteine in healthy postmenopausal women remain uncertain. The aim of this study was the assessment of the association of endogenous sex steroids with serum homocysteine levels in healthy postmenopausal women not on hormone therapy.

DESIGN:
484 postmenopausal women aged 43-69 years were studied in a cross-sectional design. Parameters assessed were serum FSH, estradiol, total testosterone, SHBG, Free Androgen Index, delta4-Androstendione, Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, and homocysteine.

RESULTS:
Serum FSH correlated positively (r=0.23, p=0.01), while serum estradiol correlated negatively (r=-0.25, p=0.03) with circulating Hcy. This association remained statistically significant after adjustment for age, years since menopause, and BMI. Serum estradiol decreased, while FSH increased linearly with increasing homocysteine quartiles (p=0.04 and p=0.02, respectively). None of the serum androgens assessed correlated with circulating homocysteine.

CONCLUSIONS:
Endogenous estrogens and not androgens are related to serum homocysteine values in postmenopausal women. Whether this association has clinical implications remains to be clarified.

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Author information

Author/s: Christodoulakos, George E (GE); Lambrinoudaki, Irene V (IV); Rizos, Demetrios A (DA); Alexandrou, Andreas (A); Kountouris, Apostolos V (AV); Creatsas, George C (GC);

Affiliation: 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aretaieion Hospital, Athens University Medical School.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article

Journal: Hormones (Athens, Greece) (Hormones (Athens)), published in Greece. (Language: eng)

Reference: -2006 Jan-Mar; vol 5 (issue 1) : pp 35-41

Dates: Created 2006/05/26; Completed 2006/06/23; Revised 2008/03/17;

PMID: 16728383, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult
Aged
Androgens - blood
Androstenedione - blood
Body Mass Index
Cross-Sectional Studies
Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate - blood
Estradiol - blood
Female

Follicle Stimulating Hormone - blood
Gonadal Steroid Hormones - blood
Greece
Homocysteine - blood
Humans
Middle Aged
Postmenopause - blood
Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin - analysis
Testosterone - blood

Associated Chemicals: Androgens (0) ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones (0) ; Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin (0) ; Homocysteine (454-28-4) ; Estradiol (50-28-2) ; Testosterone (58-22-0) ; Androstenedione (63-05-8) ; Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate (651-48-9) ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone (9002-68-0)

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