OBJECTIVES We evaluated the relationships between sex steroid levels and heart rate variability (HRV) parameters.
STUDY DESIGN The study included 114 male subjects (mean age 46.6±11.3 years) presenting to our department for cardiologic evaluation. Hormonal analysis included serum levels of luteinizing hormone, prolactin, total testosterone (TT), free testosterone, estradiol (E2), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S). Parameters of HRV were derived from 24-hour Holter monitoring. The associations between serum sex steroid levels and HRV parameters were investigated in three age groups (20-39 years; 40-59 years; >60 years).
RESULTS All the participants had normal biochemical results. The three age groups were similar in terms of anthropometric measurements. Among sex steroids analyzed, only serum DHEA-S level was significantly different among the groups (p=0.026), showing a decreasing trend with age. In the evaluation of HRV, all parasympathetic activities decreased (for HFn, pNN50, and rMSDD: p=0.001, p=0.000, and p=0.000, respectively), while only LF/HF among sympathetic activities increased (p=0.000) with age. Partial correlation analysis with control of age and waist circumference showed that TT and DHEA-S were positively correlated with HFn (parasympathetic parameter), and were in negative correlation with LF/HF24 hours and global sympathetic index (GSI) (sympathetic parameters). Serum E2 level was negatively correlated with the parasympathetic parameter of rMSSD, and positively correlated with LF/HF24 hours and GSI. Among serum sex steroids, DHEA-S was the most correlated parameter with autonomic functions.
CONCLUSION Our results showed positive correlations between androgens and parasympathetic activity and between estradiol and sympathetic activity in men, independent from anthropometric factors.
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