A Comparison of the Serum Lipids, Lipoproteins, Glycoproteins, Urinary 17-Ketosteroids, and Gonadotropins in Eunuchs and Control Male Subjects

The proclivity of men to coronary artery disease has been recognized for almost 2 centuries. The gonadal hormones have understandably come under scrutiny in the search for the explanation of this marked sex difference in susceptibility to disease. Sex hormones are known to alter the physical state of the serum lipids. It has been suggested that eunuchs suffer a less severe form of coronary atherosclerosis than uncastrated subjects. This study compares the serum lipids and lipoproteins, as well as other serum and urinary constituents, in 24 castrated and 20 uncastrated institutionalized men.