Well, they still don't have the Y chromosome's effects on androgen
expression or the genetics which increase androgen receptor levels but
it's interesting nonetheless. The evidence on blood glucose is
interesting too. Lower blood glucose could be caused by higher insulin
levels. It points to gender differences in fatty acid/glucose
metabolism that have been hypothesized about before in baldness. I'd
have to say, though, the lack of a Y chromosome and its effects on a
variety of inflammatory genes means the authors can't quite prove their
hypothesis beyond a reasonable doubt.
Established risk factors for coronary heart disease are unrelated to
androgen-induced baldness in female-to-male transsexuals.
Giltay EJ, Toorians AW, Sarabdjitsingh AR, De Vries NA, Gooren LJ.
Department of Endocrinology, Andrology Unit, Vrije University Medical
Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
A high scalp sensitivity to androgens is part of the pathophysiology of
male-pattern baldness (MPB). Androgens affect established risk factors
for coronary heart disease (CHD), and a supposedly heightened impact on
these risk factors is hypothesized to explain the epidemiological
association between MPB and CHD. In this retrospective, observational
study we studied 81 female-to-male transsexual (F-->M) subjects, mean
age 36.7 Years (range 21-61), treated with testosterone esters (n=61;
250 mg i.m./2 weeks) or testosterone undecanoate (n=20; 160-240 mg/day
orally). The degree of MPB was self-assessed using a 5-point scale (i.e.
type I (no hair loss) to type V (complete hair loss)). Body mass index,
blood pressure and levels of lipid and insulin were retrospectively
assessed at the start of testosterone administration (0.5-24 Years
before) and between 3 and 4 Months of follow-up. We found that 31 of 81
(38.3%) F-->M transsexuals had MPB type II-V. Thinning of hair was
related to the duration of androgen administration and present in about
50% of F-->M transsexuals after 13 Years. None of the CHD risk factors
at follow-up, nor proportional changes, was associated with the degree
MPB, except that there was an unexpected tendency of lower fasting
glucose levels in balding subjects. Therefore, our findings do not
support the idea that MPB serves as an indicator of increased CHD risk
through androgenic effects on classic CHD risk factors.
PMID: 14709149 [PubMed - in process] tyle=display:none; hr
expression or the genetics which increase androgen receptor levels but
it's interesting nonetheless. The evidence on blood glucose is
interesting too. Lower blood glucose could be caused by higher insulin
levels. It points to gender differences in fatty acid/glucose
metabolism that have been hypothesized about before in baldness. I'd
have to say, though, the lack of a Y chromosome and its effects on a
variety of inflammatory genes means the authors can't quite prove their
hypothesis beyond a reasonable doubt.
Established risk factors for coronary heart disease are unrelated to
androgen-induced baldness in female-to-male transsexuals.
Giltay EJ, Toorians AW, Sarabdjitsingh AR, De Vries NA, Gooren LJ.
Department of Endocrinology, Andrology Unit, Vrije University Medical
Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
A high scalp sensitivity to androgens is part of the pathophysiology of
male-pattern baldness (MPB). Androgens affect established risk factors
for coronary heart disease (CHD), and a supposedly heightened impact on
these risk factors is hypothesized to explain the epidemiological
association between MPB and CHD. In this retrospective, observational
study we studied 81 female-to-male transsexual (F-->M) subjects, mean
age 36.7 Years (range 21-61), treated with testosterone esters (n=61;
250 mg i.m./2 weeks) or testosterone undecanoate (n=20; 160-240 mg/day
orally). The degree of MPB was self-assessed using a 5-point scale (i.e.
type I (no hair loss) to type V (complete hair loss)). Body mass index,
blood pressure and levels of lipid and insulin were retrospectively
assessed at the start of testosterone administration (0.5-24 Years
before) and between 3 and 4 Months of follow-up. We found that 31 of 81
(38.3%) F-->M transsexuals had MPB type II-V. Thinning of hair was
related to the duration of androgen administration and present in about
50% of F-->M transsexuals after 13 Years. None of the CHD risk factors
at follow-up, nor proportional changes, was associated with the degree
MPB, except that there was an unexpected tendency of lower fasting
glucose levels in balding subjects. Therefore, our findings do not
support the idea that MPB serves as an indicator of increased CHD risk
through androgenic effects on classic CHD risk factors.
PMID: 14709149 [PubMed - in process] tyle=display:none; hr