English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Free Plan

Recent studies of perimenopausal women suggest that follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels may be associated with atherosclerosis, independent of estradiol. Whether FSH is related to atherosclerosis in older postmenopausal women, who have completed the menopausal transition, remains unknown. We assessed the relationship of serum FSH and estradiol levels with carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) among 587 postmenopausal participants in the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study (Kuopio, Finland). Participants were aged 53-73 years and not using hormone therapy at baseline (1998-2001). Mean IMT was measured via high-resolution ultrasonography. We observed a significant inverse association between FSH levels and IMT. Mean IMTs among women in quartiles 1-4 of FSH were 0.94 mm, 0.91 mm, 0.87 mm, and 0.85 mm, respectively (P-trend &lt; 0.001). After adjustment for age, estradiol, testosterone, body mass index (weight (kg)/height (m)2), lipids, and other factors, FSH levels remained significantly associated with IMT (regression coefficients for quartiles 2-4 vs. quartile 1 were -0.038, -0.045, and -0.062, respectively; P-trend = 0.01). Findings were strongest in women aged 64-73 years (P-trend = 0.006) and did not vary by body mass index. In contrast, estradiol levels were not related to IMT. In summary, high postmenopausal FSH levels were associated with a lower atherosclerotic burden, independent of estradiol, adiposity, and other factors. Our findings warrant replication and the further exploration of potential underlying mechanisms.

Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Levels and Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Older Postmenopausal Women