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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