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Diabetes Attenuates the Increase in Estrogen‐Mediated Endothelial Function
Author(s) -
Derella Cassandra C.,
Bieck Maire Rose,
Blackburn Marsha,
Harris Ryan A.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.2020.34.s1.04418
Subject(s) - medicine , menstrual cycle , estrogen , follicular phase , diabetes mellitus , ovulation , endothelial dysfunction , endocrinology , physiology , hormone
Background Apparently healthy premenopausal women are protected against cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to men; and estrogen has been thought to play a key role. In the presence of diabetes; however, this overall sex‐dependent cardiovascular protection is lost. The increase in vascular function throughout the menstrual cycle in healthy premenopausal women has been established. The present investigation sought to test the hypothesis that the increase in vascular function from menses to the late follicular phase of the menstrual cycle is lost in premenopausal women with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Methods Premenopausal women with a clinical diagnosis of T1D (n=22, HbA 1c =8.2±1.7%, age=26±8 years, BMI=26.9±5.4 kg/m 2 ) and seemingly healthy, age‐ and sex‐matched controls (n=10, HbA 1c =5.2±0.3%, age=26±9 years, BMI=23.3±4.1 kg/m 2 ) were recruited to participate. Flow mediated dilation (FMD), a measure of endothelial function, was assessed during the menses (cycle day=4±1) and late follicular phases (cycle day=13±1) of the menstrual cycle to represent periods of low and high concentrations of estrogen, respectively. Visit 1 (menses) was confirmed by a positive hemolytic urological multistix test and visit 2 (late follicular) was scheduled based on indications from an ovulation prediction kit. A small venous blood sample was collected at each visit to measure concentrations of estrogen. Endothelial independent vasodilation was determined by administration of sublingual nitroglycerin after each FMD test. Results The increase in estrogen from menses to the follicular phase was similar ( p =0.73) in both groups (Δ estrogen: T1D=78.3±92.6 vs Controls=85.6±30.0 pg/mL). Baseline brachial artery diameter was similar between T1D and controls ( p =0.25) and was not different between visit 1 and visit 2 ( p =0.76). Fasting blood glucose was higher ( p <0.01) in women with T1D compared to controls at both visits; however, the change within groups was similar ( p =0.49) across time. A near significant interaction ( p =0.07) for endothelial function was observed such that FMD increased from the menses to follicular phase in controls (ΔFMD=1.151±1.603%), whereas no change was observed in patients with T1D (ΔFMD=−0.633±2.126%). Endothelial independent vasodilation was not different between groups ( p =0.82). Additionally, the endothelial independent response was similar across the menstrual cycle ( p =0.97). Conclusion These data suggest that the presence of diabetes may attenuate the beneficial effects of estrogen on endothelial function in premenopausal women. The loss of estrogen’s cardiovascular protective effect on the vasculature in diabetes may explain the increased risk of CVD observed in women with T1D. Support or Funding Information 1RO1HL137087‐01A1.