Endothelial function does not relate to haemoglobin or serum erythropoietin concentrations and these do not explain the gender difference in endothelial function in healthy middle-aged men and women

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background
Haemoglobin scavenges nitric oxide, and a previous study has shown a negative association between flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD), a measure of nitric oxide (NO)-dependent vasomotor function and haemoglobin concentrations [Hb]. Circulating erythropoietin (EPO) is also negatively associated with [Hb] and could influence availability of NO. The purpose of this study was to examine the association of FMD with [Hb] and EPO concentrations and to determine whether these contribute to the sex difference in FMD. FMD (by high-resolution ultrasound), [Hb], circulating immunoreactive EPO and cardiovascular risk factors were measured in 317 healthy middle-aged men and women (183 women, 33 premenopausal, mean age ± SD, 55 ± 6·8 years) participating in a dietary study.

Results
In the whole mixed-sex group, FMD was negatively correlated with [Hb] (R = −0·23, P < 0·001). However, in a multivariable model, incorporating sex and other confounding factors, FMD was independently negatively correlated only with age, male sex and systolic blood pressure: standardized regression coefficients −0·21 (P < 0·01), −0·17 (P < 0·05) and −0·20 (P < 0·05) respectively and not with [Hb]. Similarly, when the analysis was restricted to men or to postmenopausal women, there was no significant relationship between FMD and Hb. There was no significant correlation between FMD and EPO on either univariate analysis in the whole group, in each sex, or in multivariate analysis.

Conclusion
These results suggest that in healthy middle-aged subjects, FMD is not influenced by [Hb] or EPO and these do not contribute to the gender difference in FMD.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)225-230
Number of pages6
JournalEuropean Journal of Clinical Investigation
Volume43
Issue number3
Early online date18 Jan 2013
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2013

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Endothelial function does not relate to haemoglobin or serum erythropoietin concentrations and these do not explain the gender difference in endothelial function in healthy middle-aged men and women'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this