RELATION BETWEEN FREE TESTOSTRONE INDEX AND CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE IN MEN

Abstract

Background- Similar to the view that women are protected against cardiovascular ‎disease because of estrogen, it has been assumed that the increased incidence of ‎cardiovascular disease in men is in part related to androgen levels. However, studies ‎designed to examine this link have instead suggested that testosterone has a neutral or ‎perhaps even beneficial effect on cardiovascular disease in men. It is this relationship ‎that we studied‏.‏‎<br />‎ Methods- Ninety male subjects (60 with positive and 30 with negative coronary ‎angiograms) were recruited. Early morning fasting blood samples were taken from ‎each patient and total testosterone, total estradiol, sex hormone binding globulin and ‎lipids were measured and free testosterone index (FTI) was calculated‏.‏‎ <br />‎ Results- Men with proven coronary artery disease had higher levels of total ‎cholesterol, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein (LDL) and a lower level of high ‎density lipoprotein, but this was only statistical significant for total cholesterol and ‎LDL, (p=0.004). Men with coronary artery disease had lower levels of serum total ‎testosterone, estradiol and free testosterone index but this difference did not reach ‎statistical significance‏.‏‎ <br />‎ Conclusion-Considering the results of this study, we conclude that serum testosterone ‎and estradiol levels in men are not risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD) ‎‎(Iranian Heart Journal 2002, 2003; 3(4&4(1): 71-73). ‎