Endogenous Sex Hormones in Relation to Age, Sex, Lifestyle Factors, and Chronic Diseases in a General Population: The Tromsø Study

Bjørnerem, Åshild; Straume, Bjørn; M, Midtby; Fønnebø, Vinjar; Sundsfjord, Johan; Svartberg, Johan; Acharya, Ganesh; Øian, Pål; Berntsen, Gro

doi:10.1210/jc.2004-0735

Cited by 181 publications

(152 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…This inhibitory regulation by estrogens is consistent not only with the normal sex differences in COMT activity noted above, but with evidence that women with high estrogen states (eg on the combined oral contraceptive, or in the third trimester of pregnancy) have higher COMT activity than other women (Briggs and Briggs, 1973). In postmenopausal women, estrogen levels fall dramatically, to substantially below that of men of the same age (Bjornerem et al, 2004); it would be of interest to know if sexual dimorphisms in COMT activity (or its genetic associations) present in younger adults are lost or reversed in the elderly.…”

Section: Mechanisms Of Sexual Dimorphism In Comt Effects and Associatsupporting

confidence: 83%

“…This fact also bears upon potential explanations for sexual dimorphism in COMT based upon epigenetic regulation (Kaminsky et al, 2006); in any event, there is no evidence for a sex difference in COMT methylation status (Abdolmaleky et al, 2006). Furthermore, the finding that COMT protein and activity levels rise considerably in men between the third and fifth decade of life (Tunbridge et al, 2007a), despite steady estradiol levels across this period (Bjornerem et al, 2004) emphasizes that estrogens are not the only factor responsible for regulating COMT in the brain.…”

Section: Mechanisms Of Sexual Dimorphism In Comt Effects and Associatmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT): A Gene Contributing to Sex Differences in Brain Function, and to Sexual Dimorphism in the Predisposition to Psychiatric Disorders

Harrison

Tunbridge

2007

Neuropsychopharmacol

275

217

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Sex differences in the genetic epidemiology and clinical features of psychiatric disorders are well recognized, but the individual genes contributing to these effects have rarely been identified. Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), which metabolizes catechol compounds, notably dopamine, is a leading candidate. COMT enzyme activity, and the neurochemistry and behavior of COMT null mice, are both markedly sexually dimorphic. Genetic associations between COMT and various psychiatric phenotypes frequently show differences between men and women. Many of these differences are unconfirmed or minor, but some appear to be of reasonable robustness and magnitude; eg the functional Val 158 Met polymorphism in COMT is associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder in men, with anxiety phenotypes in women, and has a greater impact on cognitive function in boys than girls. Sex-specific effects of COMT are usually attributed to transcriptional regulation by estrogens; however, additional mechanisms are likely to be at least as important. Here we review the evidence for a sexually dimorphic influence of COMT upon psychiatric phenotypes, and discuss its potential basis. We conclude that despite the evidence being incomplete, and lacking a unifying explanation, there are accumulating and in places compelling data showing that COMT differentially impacts on brain function and dysfunction in men and women. Since sex differences in the genetic architecture of quantitative traits are the rule not the exception, we anticipate that additional evidence will emerge for sexual dimorphisms, not only in COMT but also in many other autosomal genes.

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Section: Mechanisms Of Sexual Dimorphism In Comt Effects and Associatsupporting

confidence: 83%

Section: Mechanisms Of Sexual Dimorphism In Comt Effects and Associatmentioning

confidence: 99%

Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT): A Gene Contributing to Sex Differences in Brain Function, and to Sexual Dimorphism in the Predisposition to Psychiatric Disorders

Harrison

Tunbridge

2007

Neuropsychopharmacol

275

217

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Plasma DHEA-S levels do not drop during the menopause transition, but decline with aging (1,2,20). A recent study has shown a positive correlation between DHEA-S levels and the duration of reactive hyperemia, another less specific marker of endothelial function compared to FMD, in young women (26±6 years old, n= 27) with polycystic ovary syndrome (21).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Association of Plasma Dehydroepiandrosterone-Sulfate Levels with Endothelial Function in Postmenopausal Women with Coronary Risk Factors

et al. 2008

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“…40 Women experience a rapid decline in sex hormones (estrogen) expressed with the cessation of menses. 41 It is possible that the reduction in estrogen levels to some degree counteracts the aging effect on tendon through causing women's tendon properties to deteriorate less (where increased compliance is considered a deterioration) with aging than men's.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tendon structural and mechanical properties do not differ between genders in a healthy community‐dwelling elderly population

Burgess

Pearson

Breen

et al. 2009

Journal Orthopaedic Research

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Elderly women are reportedly at higher risk of falling than their male counterparts. Postural balance is highly associated with fall risk and is also correlated with tendon structural and mechanical properties. Gender differences in tendon properties could partly explain the discrepancy in fall risk. Thus the purpose of this study was to investigate the possible gender difference in tendon properties in the elderly. The properties of the patellar tendon of 55 elderly (men n ¼ 27, aged 72 AE 1 years, women n ¼ 28, aged 70 AE 1 years) participants were tested. Tendon stiffness (K), length (L), and cross-sectional area (CSA) were measured using B-mode ultrasonography, dynamometry, and electromyography during ramped isometric knee extensions. There were no significant differences ( p > 0.05) between men and women in tendon stiffness (elderly men 550.9 AE 29.2 vs. women 502.9 AE 44.9 Nmm À1 ) or in Young's modulus (elderly men 0.32 AE 0.02 vs. women 0.36 AE 0.04 GPa). This elderly group had similar tendon structural and mechanical properties. The comparable characteristics in genderspecific tendon properties in an elderly population exhibiting similar lifestyle characteristics to the current sample may not explain the reports in the literature regarding increased fall risk in elderly women relative to that seen in men of a similar age. Keywords: aging; gender differences; patellar tendon; stiffness; Young's modulusIn the last 30 years the proportion of the population aged 65 years or more has increased to 16% in the UK and this increase is set to continue (The Office for National Statistics, 2006). Approximately one-third of people aged over 65 fall at least once a year, and about half of these do so recurrently, leading to injury and subsequent decrease in quality of life, and in many cases death. 1 Elderly women exhibit a higher risk of falling than their male counterparts, 2,3 and most falls occur after a loss of stability in a forward direction such as tripping while walking. 2 In order to maintain balance individuals require information concerning the orientation of the body in space and the geometry of the body. In humans this information is obtained via the complex interactions of sensory systems (primarily the somatosensory, visual, and vestibular systems) and motor systems. 4 Aging results in a decline in the function of these systems and their interaction, which has been related to reduced balance ability and thus increased fall risk. [5][6][7]

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Endogenous Sex Hormones in Relation to Age, Sex, Lifestyle Factors, and Chronic Diseases in a General Population: The Tromsø Study

Cited by 181 publications

References 46 publications

Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT): A Gene Contributing to Sex Differences in Brain Function, and to Sexual Dimorphism in the Predisposition to Psychiatric Disorders

Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT): A Gene Contributing to Sex Differences in Brain Function, and to Sexual Dimorphism in the Predisposition to Psychiatric Disorders

Association of Plasma Dehydroepiandrosterone-Sulfate Levels with Endothelial Function in Postmenopausal Women with Coronary Risk Factors

Tendon structural and mechanical properties do not differ between genders in a healthy community‐dwelling elderly population

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