Abstract
BackgroundSolar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) affects the body through pathways that exhibit positive as well as negative health effects such as immunoregulation and vitamin D production. Different vitamin D metabolites are associated with higher or lower concentrations of estrogens and may thus alter the female sex hormone balance. ObjectiveTo study whether exposure to UVR, as a modifiable lifestyle factor, is associated with levels of sex hormones (17β-estradiol, estrone, estrone 3-sulfate, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate), gonadotropins (follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone) as well as sex hormone binding globulin in postmenopausal women, and thus investigate whether managing UVR exposure can influence the hormone balance, with potential benefits for the biological aging process. MethodsThe study included 580 postmenopausal women from six European countries, participating in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (2010–2014). Average UVR exposure during the month before blood sampling was estimated based on personal sun behavior and ambient levels. Hormone concentrations were measured in serum using state-of-the-art methods. Subsequently we applied linear mixed-effects models, including center as random intercept, hormone concentrations (one at a time) as outcome and UVR, age, skin type, body mass index, vitamin D from dietary sources, smoking, age at completed full-time education and season of blood sampling as fixed-effect predictors. ResultsOne interquartile range increase in UVR exposure was associated with decreased levels of 17β-estradiol (-15.6 pmol/L, 95 % Confidence Interval (CI): -27.69, -3.51) and estrone (-13.36 pmol/L, 95 % CI: -26.04, -0.68) and increased levels of follicle stimulating hormone (9.34IU/L, 95 % CI: 2.91, 15.77) and luteinizing hormone (13.86 IU/daL, 95 % CI: 2.48, 25.25). ConclusionsExposure to UVR is associated with decreased estrogens and increased gonadotropins in postmenopausal women, a status associated with osteoporosis, lung function decline and other adverse health effects. This study indicates that managing UVR exposure has potential to influence the hormone balance and counteract adverse health conditions after menopause.
Highlights
After menopause the female hormone balance changes drastically [1, 2]
Exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is associated with decreased estrogens and increased gonadotropins in post menopausal women, a status associated with osteoporosis, lung function decline and other adverse health effects
One modifiable lifestyle factor is the exposure to sunlight and ultraviolet radiation (UVR), which is a form of non-ionizing radiation that has both adverse and beneficial health effects
Summary
After menopause the female hormone balance changes drastically [1, 2]. Low concentrations of estrogens and rising concentrations of go nadotropins affect many physiological pathways and accelerate the aging process [3]. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether UVR exposure is associated with serum concentrations of sex hormones, gonadotropins and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) after meno pause and study whether managing UVR exposure can influence the hormone balance, with potential benefits for the biological aging process. Objective: To study whether exposure to UVR, as a modifiable lifestyle factor, is associated with levels of sex hormones (17β-estradiol, estrone, estrone 3-sulfate, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate), gonadotro pins (follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone) as well as sex hormone binding globulin in post menopausal women, and investigate whether managing UVR exposure can influence the hormone balance, with potential benefits for the biological aging process
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