Testosterone could 保護する older women from heart 病気

By JENNY HOPE

Last updated at 22:00 09 July 2007

Older women with low levels of the male hormone testosterone are at greater 危険 of heart 病気, （人命などを）奪う，主張する研究員s.

For the first time a 熟考する／考慮する shows those with a testosterone "欠陥／不足" after the menopause are more likely to have 封鎖するd arteries.

Usually thought of as the male hormone, testosterone is made in small 量s by the ovaries and is believed to be instrumental in 促進するing 性の願望（する） in women.

Levels 自然に拒絶する／低下する after the menopause, but can 落ちる劇的な in women when the womb and ovaries are 除去するd surgically.

In Britain, women can already get testosterone patches on prescription to help 回復する their sex 運動 when they have had an 早期に menopause because of hysterectomy.

But this 最新の研究示唆するs far more 地位，任命する-menopausal women should be 定める／命ずるd patches on the Health Service because higher levels of the hormone may 保護する against cardiovascular 病気.

A team led by Dr Erik Debing at Belgium's 解放する／自由な University of Brussels 診察するd 56 地位，任命する-menopausal women who had atherosclerosis or "furring up" of the carotid artery, which 供給（する）s 血 to the 長，率いる and neck. Levels of testosterone in these women were compared with 56 女性（の）s of 類似の age and background.

The women with atherosclerosis had 意味ありげに lower testosterone reserves, yet there was no difference between levels of other sex hormones.

Even after the 研究員s took into account 危険 factors such as diet, high 血圧力, smoking and 糖尿病, the link between low testosterone levels "remained strong", says a 報告（する）／憶測 in the European 定期刊行物 of Endocrinology.

Dr Debing said 統計（学） show the 危険 of heart 病気増加するs in women after the menopause compared with younger women, but the 推論する／理由s have remained 不明瞭な.

He 追加するd: "This is the first time that a 事例／患者-支配（する）／統制する熟考する／考慮する has 設立する that 地位，任命する-menopausal women with atherosclerosis have lower testosterone levels.

"Atherosclerosis is the main precursor to heart 病気, one of the major 原因（となる）s of death in 地位，任命する-menopausal women. Our work 示唆するs that higher levels of testosterone may have a 保護の役割 against atherosclerosis in women who have undergone the menopause."

He said the 研究 was an "important step 今後" in understanding the 原因（となる）s of the 条件.

"It will 許す us to develop more 効果的な治療s and advice," he 追加するd.

Previous 研究示唆するs that middle-老年の men with low levels of testosterone may have higher 率s of heart 病気 than those with normal levels.

Dr John Stevenson, 顧問 metabolic 内科医 at the 王室の Brompton Hospital in London, said around a third of women who have had both ovaries 除去するd are likely to 苦しむ testosterone 欠陥／不足 and かもしれない 5 to 10 per cent of other menopausal women.

Dr Stevenson, who is also chairman of the charity Women's Health 関心, said: "We are ますます using testosterone to help women and are planning a 臨床の裁判，公判 to look at the vascular 影響."

But he 警告するd that 補足（する）s might be harmful for women with normal testosterone levels.

He explained: "High doses can create atheroma, or problems in the arteries, and may have an 逆の影響 in women who are not deficient."