Analysis of Sex Hormones and Lipoproteins in Young Males

Maryland Medical Research Institute, Inc, Baltimore MD

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

DESCRIPTION (Provided by Applicant) This application requests support for secondary analysis of the Sex Hormones and Lipoproteins in Adolescent Males Study (HD/HL18281), a 3-year (1984-1987) study of lipids, blood pressure, weight, fat patterning, and sex steroid hormones (SSH) in adolescent males. A total of 664 black and white males, ages 10-15, were enrolled into a study designed as a series of repeated data collections over 2 years within age cohorts. Cross-sectional analyses have been used to explain differences during adolescence in SSH and SSH-lipid relationships between black and white boys and between boys with and without a family history of CHD. When the data were originally collected for this study, theoretical models of flexible longitudinal analytic techniques had been developed, but were not available for computer use. These techniques, now supported by software, allow a more powerful and complete analysis of these data. The primary aim of these analyses is to explicate the contribution of changes in SSH and fat patterning to changes in plasma concentrations of high (HDL-C) and low (LDL-C) density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), and apolipoproteins (apo) Al, All, and B occurring during puberty in males. SSH assayed included estradiol (E2) and free testosterone (T). We will test the following hypotheses: (1) increasing free T predicts/leads to decreases in HDL-C and increases in LDL-C, apo B, and the LDL-C/HDL-C ratio in adolescent males; (2) increasing E2 predicts decreases in apo B, LDL-C and the LDL-C/HDL- C ratio, but the resultant effects will vary with adiposity and fat patterning; (3) rapid weight gain predicts increased central adiposity, defined as the ratio of truncal skinfolds to total skinfolds, and with greater decreases in HDL-C and increases in triglycerides, apo B, LDL-C and the LDL- C/HDL-C ratio. Rapid weight gain predicts increased E2, but the atherogenic effects of increased central adiposity on lipids are greater than the anti- atherogenic effects of E2. These analyses will provide a better understanding of metabolic factors underlying obesity-hormone-lipoprotein relationships. Given the well- documented increase in obesity in American youth, these analyses are especially pertinent and address important public health issues.