|
Taken from WWW.pubmed.gov (testosterone studies)
Coron Artery Dis. 2007 May;18(3):159-62.
The association between androgen levels and premature coronary artery disease in men.
Turhan S, Tulunay C, Güleç S, Ozdöl C, Kilickap M, Altin T, Gerede M, Erol C.
Department of Cardiology, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. sblturhan@yahoo.com
OBJECTIVE: The relationship between androgens and the risk of development of coronary artery disease
has not been clarified well. This study was planned to determine the relationship between serum androgen
levels and premature development of coronary artery disease in men.
METHODS: Sixty-nine men below 45 years of age with documented coronary artery disease (mean age 41.0+/-4.7)
constituted the study group. Control group consisted of 56 men with similar age and normal coronary
angiograms (mean age 41.3+/-3.8). Total and free testosterone, estradiol, and fasting plasma total,
low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were measured,
and compared between the two groups.
RESULTS: Mean age, body mass index, and the frequency of hypertension were similar between the two groups;
however, diabetes mellitus, smoking, hyperlipidemia, and family history of coronary artery disease were
more frequent in the coronary artery disease group. Total and free testosterone levels of the patients
with coronary artery disease were significantly lower than those of controls, whereas estradiol levels
did not differ. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that free testosterone levels
(P=0.014; odds ratio=0.90; 95% confidence interval=0.87-0.99), hyperlipidemia (P<0.001; odds ratio=8.2;
95% confidence interval=3.17-21.0), and smoking (P=0.026; odds ratio=3.12; 95% confidence interval=1.15-8.48)
were independent predictors of premature coronary artery disease. Moreover, using receiver operating
characteristic analysis, patients with free testosterone levels below the cut-off value of 17.3 pg/ml
had an adjusted 3.3-fold risk of developing premature coronary artery disease compared to those with
free testosterone levels above the cut-off level (odds ratio=3.3; 95% confidence interval=1.57-6.87).
CONCLUSION: A low level of free testosterone may be related to the development of premature coronary
artery disease.
PMID: 17429287 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Dr. Gordon:
The continued refusal of the medical community to recognize the profound adverse effects of
testosterone deficiency on the heart amounts to wholesale medical neglect.
|
