Although studies have suggested that endogenous sex hormones may have direct effects on lipoprotein-lipid variables, no studies have established the relationship between specific indices of lipoprotein-lipid metabolism, such as lipoprotein subfractions and endogenous sex hormones levels. In this study, the investigators of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) investigated this relationship in 3,143 men and 2,038 postmenopausal women who were not on hormone replacement therapy. All study participants were 45 to 84 years of age. It was reported that in both men and women, and after adjusting for nonlipid cardiovascular disease risk factors, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels were higher in participants with smaller and fewer VLDL, larger and fewer LDL, and larger and more abundant HDL particles. Endogenous estradiol levels were associated with smaller VLDL and smaller and more numerous LDL and HDL particles. Several sex-specific relationships were reported between testosterone levels and dehydroepiandrosterone and lipoprotein subfractions. This study confirms the association of SHBG with a favourable lipoprotein-lipid profile and shows that endogenous estradiol levels are associated with a more atherogenic lipoprotein particle profile.
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