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Sex hormones and adipokines in healthy pre-menopausal, post-menopausal and elderly women, and in age-matched men: Data from the Brisighella Heart Study

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Abstract

Background: Sex hormones and adipokines seem to differently interact in both genders at different ages. Aim: To comparatively evaluate the serum level of adipokines and sex hormones in healthy non-pharmacologically treated premenopausal women, post-menopausal women, and elderly women, and in age-matched men. Subjects: From the historical cohort of the Brisighella Heart Study we selected 199 adult healthy subjects (males: 89; females: 110), aged 62.5±12.4 yr. Men and women included in the age-class subgroups were matched for body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, blood pressure, heart rate, fasting plasma glucose, plasma lipids. Results: Leptin did not differ among various age classes in men, while pre-menopausal women displayed significantly lower serum leptin than post-menopausal women (−6.7±2.2 pg/ml, p=0.036). Post-menopausal women had significantly greater serum leptin when compared with age-matched men (+13.1±2.0 pg/ml, p<0.001); the same was observed for elderly women when compared with elderly men (+11.2±2.3 pg/ml, p<0.001). At any age, women had significantly lower serum testosterone/estrone ratio than age-matched men (p<0.01). Serum DHEAS was inversely proportional to age in both genders. The main predictors of adiponectin level are age in men (p=0.027) and BMI in women (p=0.003). The main predictors of leptin level are BMI and the testosterone/estrone ratio in both sexes (p<0.05). The testosterone/estrone ratio is also the main predictor of ghrelin levels in women (p=0.006). Conclusion: Sex hormones and adipokines show specific interactions in the two genders and in different age-classes in a representative sample of adult healthy subjects.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Internal Medicine, Aging and Kidney Diseases Dept., Sant’Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, Poliambulatorio Pad. 2 - Via Albertoni 15, 40138, Bologna, Italy

    A. F. G. Cicero MD, PhD & C. Borghi

  2. Department of Endocrinology, Pathophysiology and Applied Biology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

    P. Magni & M. Ruscica

  3. ACSA Delegate, Emergency Medicine Department, “Madre G. Vannini” Hospital, Rome, Italy

    P. Lentini

  4. Department of Human Morphology and Biomedical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

    E. Dozio

  5. Unit of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Metabolic Diseases, Nutrition and Wellness, INRCA-IRCCS, Rome, Italy

    F. Strollo

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  1. A. F. G. Cicero MD, PhD
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  2. P. Magni
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  3. P. Lentini
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Correspondence to A. F. G. Cicero MD, PhD.

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Cicero, A.F.G., Magni, P., Lentini, P. et al. Sex hormones and adipokines in healthy pre-menopausal, post-menopausal and elderly women, and in age-matched men: Data from the Brisighella Heart Study. J Endocrinol Invest 34, e158–e162 (2011). https://doi.org/10.3275/7407

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