Polymorphisms Related to Estrogen and Xenobiotic Metabolism in Healthy Turkish Women

The association of cytochrome P450 1B1 Leu432Val polymorphism with biological markers of health and menopausal symptoms in Slovak midlife women

OBJECTIVE

In this study, the CYP1B1 polymorphism was examined in relationship to recognized risk factors for cardiovascular disease. In particular, this study focused on plasma lipid levels, atherogenic indices, and body composition. Furthermore, this polymorphism was analyzed as a predisposing factor for menopausal symptoms among women during midlife, subdivided according to their menopause status.

METHODS

A total of 399 women aged from 39 to 60 years were examined. They were recruited from the western and middle parts of Slovakia. Participants were interviewed during their medical examination, and they were investigated with respect to a variety of aspects such as anthropometric and medical aspects, and a menopause-specific questionnaire was included. The participants provided a saliva or blood sample for DNA genotyping and a blood sample for biochemical analysis.

RESULTS

The Leu432Val genotype demonstrated statistically significant associations with triglycerides, with the ratio of total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and with the logarithm of the ratio of plasma concentration of triglycerides to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in women in their reproductive period. The mean values were significantly lower in women carrying the Val/Val genotype. Four atherogenic indices showed a decreasing trend in relationship to the CYP1B1 genotypes in women during their reproductive period (in the following order of magnitude: Leu/Leu + Leu/Val vs Val/Val) and an increasing trend among postmenopausal women in the same order. Furthermore, the Val/Val genotype diminished experiences of bloated stomach, of vaginal dryness in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women, and of palpitations in premenopausal women.

CONCLUSIONS

The Leu432Val polymorphism may be associated with the lipid profile in midlife women. Moreover, this polymorphism may influence the risk of some menopausal symptoms.

Vasomotor symptom prevalence is associated with polymorphisms in sex steroid-metabolizing enzymes and receptors

The relation of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of genes involved in estrogen function to vasomotor symptoms (VMS) has been inadequately explored. We evaluated SNPs in sex steroid-metabolizing genes and estrogen receptors (ERs) for their association with VMS (hot flashes, night sweats, and/or cold sweats) reported by women who were premenopausal or in early perimenopause at baseline. The study population was drawn from participants in the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN). African American, Caucasian, Chinese, and Japanese women, 42 to 52 years of age at baseline, who were enrolled in the longitudinal, community-based cohort of SWAN provided questionnaire, interview, weight and height measurements, and serum samples through the sixth annual visit. SNPs associated with the sex steroid hormone pathway were genotyped and available for 1,538 participants. These SNPs were associated with reporting VMS > or =6 days compared with <6 days in the past 2 weeks using race/ethnicity-specific repeated measures logistic regression models. Participants were on average 46 years old at baseline. The prevalence of VMS reporting increased in all racial/ethnic groups from baseline to the sixth annual follow-up visit. After adjustment for covariates, several SNPs encoding genes responsible for estrogen metabolism and ERs were associated with decreased odds of reporting VMS, including the CYP1B1 rs1056836 GC genotype in African American women; 17HSD rs615942 TG, 17HSD rs592389 TG, and 17HSD rs2830 AG genotypes in Caucasian women; and the CYP1A1 rs2606345 AC genotype in Chinese women. We identified race/ethnicity-specific associations between VMS reporting and specific polymorphisms for sex steroid-metabolizing enzymes and sex steroid receptors. Clarification of the mechanisms of the associations and confirmation in other populations is warranted.