• Aging stiffens the blood vessels but the

    From ScienceDaily@1:317/3 to All on Fri Dec 10 21:30:38 2021
    Aging stiffens the blood vessels but their flexibility also fluctuates
    based on a woman's hormone state

    Date:
    December 10, 2021
    Source:
    University of Jyva"skyla" - Jyva"skyla"n yliopisto
    Summary:
    A study measured arterial stiffness in women from wide age range.

    Increased stiffness is an independent risk factor for
    cardiovascular disease. Age was a strong determinant of arterial
    stiffness. Indicative of the role of hormones, menstrual cycle
    phase, contraceptive pill phase and menopausal state were also
    associated with arterial stiffness.



    FULL STORY ==========================================================================
    A study conducted at the University of Jyva"skyla" in the Faculty of
    Sport and Health Sciences measured arterial stiffness in women from wide
    age range.

    Increased stiffness is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular
    disease.

    Age was a strong determinant of arterial stiffness. Indicative of the
    role of hormones, menstrual cycle phase, contraceptive pill phase and menopausal state were also associated with arterial stiffness.


    ==========================================================================
    The human vasculature consists of arteries, veins, and capillaries where
    blood circulates in a certain direction. As the heart pumps blood, the
    arteries that carry blood throughout the body also work. The arteries alternately dilate and contract, allowing blood to progress. This
    propagation is known as a pulse wave. The walls of the arteries should
    be elastic enough, though not too much so, to allow the pulse wave
    to proceed without the walls of the arteries rupturing. As the blood
    vessels age, the arterial wall stiffens. Stiffening increases the risk
    of cardiovascular disease and the risk of cardiac mortality.

    Female sex hormones have been shown to affect several factors that
    regulate vascular wall elasticity, so high estrogen levels are thought
    to be one of the mechanisms by which young adult women acquire a lower
    risk of cardiovascular disease than their male peers. Studies measuring
    both hormone levels and arterial stiffness in women differing due to
    their age or use of hormonal products are scarce.

    "Our study combined two datasets including young adults and middle-aged
    women.

    It allowed for a comprehensive examination of the different hormonal
    statuses involved in women's lives," says Associate Professor Eija
    Laakkonen from the Gerontology Research Center and the Faculty of
    Sports and Health Science, University of Jyva"skyla". "We were able
    to study the associations of the natural menstrual cycle and the use
    of birth control pills, as well as the natural menopause and the use
    of hormone therapy with the flexibility of the arteries." The entire
    study consisted of women aged 19 to 58 years. The older the women were,
    the stiffer their arteries were. Of the hormones measured, estradiol and follicle-stimulating hormone were associated with arterial stiffness,
    but age was a stronger determinant of stiffness than hormone levels
    were. Examination of the subsets showed hormonal state to be associated
    with arterial stiffness.

    The attenuation of the pulse wave was faster in the late follicular
    and ovulation phases than it was during menstrual bleeding. Combined
    oral contraceptive users have varying hormonal levels due to taking
    pills containing estrogen and progestogen for the first three weeks and
    then changing to hormone-free pills for a week during which withdrawal
    bleeding occurs. While taking the hormonal pills, the arteries were
    more elastic than they were during bleeding. Among menopausal women, postmenopausal women on hormone therapy had the stiffest arteries.

    "Based on this study, we can conclude that age is a significant regulator
    of vascular functions, but hormones also play a role in regulating
    arterial elasticity at different stages of a woman's life," Laakkonen
    says. "In the future studies, it would be worthwhile to closely inspect
    and compare the effects of endogenous and exogenous hormones on arterial
    wall properties to better understand the regulation of arterial properties
    at different hormonal stages women live through. Such comprehensive
    studies have not been done yet." The research was carried out at the
    Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences of the University of Jyva"skyla"
    using the research data from the studies Estrogen, microRNAs and the
    risk of metabolic dysfunction (EsmiRs) and the Endogenous and exogenous hormones and performance in women (MEndEx). The EsmiRs study is led by Associate Professor Eija Laakkonen and MendEx is led by Lecturer Johanna Ihalainen. EsmiRs has been funded by the Academy of Finland and MendEx
    by the Urheiluopistosa"a"tio".

    ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Jyva"skyla"_-_Jyva"skyla"n_yliopisto. Note: Content may
    be edited for style and length.


    ========================================================================== Journal Reference:
    1. Eija K. Laakkonen, Jari E. Karppinen, Satu Lehti, Earric Lee, Emilia
    Pesonen, Hanna-Kaarina Juppi, Urho M. Kujala, Eero
    A. Haapala, Pauliina Aukee, Jari A. Laukkanen, Johanna
    K. Ihalainen. Associations of Sex Hormones and Hormonal Status
    With Arterial Stiffness in a Female Sample From Reproductive
    Years to Menopause. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 2021; 12 DOI:
    10.3389/fendo.2021.765916 ==========================================================================

    Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/12/211210103124.htm

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