Table 5.
Regression coefficients (95% confidence intervals) for routine lipid profile and NMR derived LDL variables (as dependent variables) vs. sex hormone levels in men and women
| Men | Women | Sex Difference p |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Calculated LDL-C from routine lipid profile (mg/dL) | |||
| Total T | 0.89 (−1.43 to 3.21) | −0.82 (−2.36 to 0.73) | 0.228 |
| E2 | 0.87 (−1.23 to 2.97) | −1.49 (−2.95 to −0.03)†a | 0.062 |
| DHEA | 2.94 (1.02 to 4.86)† | 5.42 (3.34 to 7.50)† | 0.133 |
| SHBG | −3.03 (−5.56 to −0.50)† | −3.68 (−5.87 to −1.48)† | 0.599 |
| NMR Mean Particle size (pm) | |||
| Total T | 12.9 (−35.1 to 60.8) | 17.8 (−17.8 to 53.3) | 0.962 |
| E2 | −100.6 (−146.1 to −55.1)† | −50.3 (−81.3 to −19.2)† | 0.002 |
| DHEA | 7.4 (−30.1 to 45.0) | −34.4 (−81.4 to 12.6) | 0.206 |
| SHBG | 381.8 (327.5 to 436.1)† | 432.9 (386.0 to 479.8)† | 0.970 |
| NMR Particle number (nmol/L) | |||
| All LDL particles | |||
| Total T | −6.25 (−35.1 to 22.6) | −20.4 (−37.0 to −3.8)† | 0.431 |
| E2 | 38.1 (13.0 to 63.3)† | 18.7 (4.3 to 33.0)† | 0.017 |
| DHEA | 11.3 (−10.9 to 33.5) | 34.0 (10.8 to 57.1)† | 0.435 |
| SHBG | −106.2 (−134.3 to −78.1)† | −150.0 (−174.5 to −125.5)† | 0.592 |
| IDL 23-27 nm | |||
| Total T | −2.80 (−4.35 to −1.24)† | 0.32 (−0.93 to 1.58) | 0.001 |
| E2 | 3.25 (1.80 to 4.70)† | 0.85 (−0.15 to 1.85) | 0.002 |
| DHEA | 1.12 (−0.49 to 2.73) | −0.14 (−1.19 to 1.64) | 0.086 |
| SHBG | −4.34 (−5.87 to −2.81) | −8.45 (−10.29 to −6.60)† | 0.008 |
| Large LDL 21.2-23nm | |||
| Total T | 7.44 (−3.13 to 18.03) | −2.66 (−11.79 to 6.48) | 0.144 |
| E2 | −18.36 (−30.63 to −6.10)† | −8.87 (−16.40 to −1.34)† | 0.019 |
| DHEA | 4.56 (−3.94 to 13.07) | −0.91 (−13.24 to 11.43) | 0.457 |
| SHBG | 80.23 (68.03 to 92.43) | 87.27 (74.11 to 100.43) | 0.832 |
| Medium small LDL 19.8-21.2nm | |||
| Total T | −1.85 (−8.67 to 4.96) | −3.16 (−7.41 to 1.10) | 0.779 |
| E2 | 10.82 (4.91 to 16.73)† | 5.12 (1.45 to 8.79)† | 0.008 |
| DHEA | 0.94 (−4.06 to 5.94) | 7.09 (1.03 to 13.15)† | 0.317 |
| SHBG | −38.70 (−44.77 to −32.63)† | −47.37 (−53.34 to −41.39)† | 0.871 |
| Very small LDL 18-19.8nm | |||
| Total T | −9.05 (−32.17 to 14.08) | −14.92 (−30.62 to 0.78) | 0.747 |
| E2 | 42.43 (21.24 to 63.62)† | 21.57 (6.41 to 36.42)† | 0.004 |
| DHEA | 4.68 (−13.10 to 22.46) | 27.93 (5.00 to 50.86)† | 0.327 |
| SHBG | −143.41 (−165.9 to −120.9)† | −181.44 (−204.6 to −158.3)† | 0.660 |
Regressions were performed with all log-transformed sex hormones in the same model, adjusted for age, race, Body Mass Index (BMI), diabetes status, current cigarette smoking, current alcohol use, lipid-lowering medication, and weekly reported moderate to vigorous physical activity. Beta coefficients represent the differences in mean LDL cholesterol levels (in mg/dL), or in variable levels in pm or nmol/L between a person with a given level of hormone and another person with double that level of hormone, keeping all other covariates constant, and 95% confidence intervals obtained from empirical bootstrapped standard errors.
p<0.05.
p=0.23 in sample restricted to those not on lipid-lowering therapy. Conversion factor for cholesterol: 1 mg/dL = 0.0259 mmol/L.