New research in The FASEB Journal suggests that the
androgen receptor confers protection against
diet-induced atherosclerosis, obesity and
dyslipidemia in female mice.
While testosterone replacement therapies may be
controversial in males, new research in The FASEB
Journal may extend this controversy to females too.
That's because research involving mice, appearing in
the April 2015 issue, suggests that there is an
association between low levels of androgens (which
includes testosterone), and atherosclerosis and
obesity in females.
"We hope that our study will contribute to
intensified research efforts on the definition of
androgen deficiency in women (e.g. which levels of
androgens in the blood should be considered too
low?), the consequences androgen deficiency may have
for women's health and ultimately, whether androgen
deficient women may need androgen treatment for
normalization of their androgen levels in order to
maintain long-term cardiovascular and overall
health," said Åsa Tivesten, M.D., Ph.D., a
researcher involved in the work from the Wallenberg
Laboratory for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Research
at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Göteborg,
Sweden.
Tivesten and colleagues discovered this association
by comparing female mice with and without the
androgen receptor. They found that female mice
without the androgen receptor developed obesity,
high levels of fat in blood and increased
atherosclerosis. They treated these female mice with
androgens and body fat and atherosclerosis were
reduced.
"The notion that there are 'male' and 'female'
hormones is a bit too simplistic and this research
really brings that to light," said Gerald Weissmann,
M.D., Editor-in-Chief of The FASEB Journal. "Both
men and women have androgen hormones--just at
different levels. This report really raises the
question of what levels of androgen hormones are
optimal for the best health."
For more information
The androgen receptor confers protection against
diet-induced atherosclerosis, obesity, and
dyslipidemia in female mice
http://www.fasebj.org/content/29/4/1540.abstract
Wallenberg Laboratory for Cardiovascular and
Metabolic Research - Sahlgrenska University Hospital
MDN |