Abstract
Background: Natriuretic peptides (NPs), including brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), are neurohormones involved in the regulation of water-sodium balance and the maintenance of cardiovascular homeostasis. A higher concentration of NPs is observed in females, but the mechanism behind this difference has not been fully elucidated. Methods: Randomly chosen 255 volunteers from the general population were examined. Overall, 196 people without severe cardiovascular disease were included (mean age 48 years, 35.7% male). A comprehensive assessment was performed, including anthropometric measurements, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), total testosterone (TT) and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) concentration, transthoracic echocardiography (ECHO), and body composition analysis by direct dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). The univariate analysis adjusted by the known affecting factors determined which measurements were independently associated with NT-proBNP concentration. Results: NT-proBNP concentration was positively associated with gynoid fat mass, gynoid/total fat (G/TF) mass index, SHBG and negatively with android/gynoid (A/G) fat mass index, TT and calculated free testosterone (CFT) concentrations. Furthermore, body composition parameters remained independently associated with NT-proBNP levels even after adjusting for CFT and SHBG. Conclusion: In the population without severe cardiovascular disease, the NT-proBNP concentration is independently associated with lower availability of testosterone and higher gynoid fat distribution, which may explain higher NPs levels in females.
Highlights
Natriuretic peptides (NPs), including brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), are neurohormones involved in the regulation of water-sodium balance and maintenance of cardiovascular homeostasis
Since there is an established influence of gonadal steroids on body composition in Model 2, we further extended the analysis by the effect of the testosterone
The present study reports on the plasma NT-proBNP concentration in subjects without severe cardiovascular disease providing evidence that the bioavailability of the testosterone and body composition are independently associated with the NT-proBNP concentration, which may explain higher NPs levels in females
Summary
Natriuretic peptides (NPs), including brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), are neurohormones involved in the regulation of water-sodium balance and maintenance of cardiovascular homeostasis They exert cardioprotective effects by promoting vasodilatation, natriuresis and inhibit fibrosis counteracting the effects of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Natriuretic peptides (NPs), including brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), are neurohormones involved in the regulation of water-sodium balance and the maintenance of cardiovascular homeostasis. A comprehensive assessment was performed, including anthropometric measurements, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), total testosterone (TT) and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) concentration, transthoracic echocardiography (ECHO), and body composition analysis by direct dual-energy. The univariate analysis adjusted by the known affecting factors determined which measurements were independently associated with NT-proBNP concentration
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