The aim of study was to estimate relation between excessive body weight (EBW) and coronary artery disease (CAD) in men and to assess changes in concentrations of hormones due to EBW which may predispose to atherogenesis.
Material and methods: Study group (CADM) - 33 men in the age 52 +/- 6 years, with body mass index (BMI) above 25 kg/m2 and angiographically documented CAD. Comparative group (CM) - 13 men in the same age without CAD. Apart from evaluation of occurence of risk factors in men of both groups concentrations of hormones in blood were assessed: insulin, insulin-like growth factor I, estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, progesterone (Prog), cortisol (Cort) and leptin (Lept).
Results: In CADM, comparing to CM, greater values of parameters related to EBW, BMI (30,0 +/- 2,6 vs. 26,8 +/- 2,6 kg/m2, p<0,0007) and waist-hip ratio (WHR 1,07 +/- 0,04 vs. 0,92 +/- 0,03, p<0,000001), higher concentrations of Prog (3,0 +/- 1,3 vs. 1,4 +/- 0,9 nmol/l, p<0,0003), Kort (350 +/- 108 vs. 246 +/- 97nmol/l, p<0,006) and Lept (18,2 +/- 10,5 vs. 8,0 +/- 3,6 lU/l, p<0,0003) and lower of T (9,9 +/- 4,0 vs. 12,3 +/- 3,2 nmol/l, p<0,046) were found. In regression analysis coexistence of EBW and eleveted level of Prog revealed the best fit with presence of CAD. Positive correlation between EBW and concentration of Lept and E2 and negative correlation between EBW and concentrations of T, Cort and DHEAS in CADM were found.
Conclusions: EBW is a highly aggravating risk factor of CAD in men and is linked to proatherogenic changes in levels of steroid hormones of adrenal and gonadal origin.