Plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) levels are higher in men vs. premenopausal women, but it is not known whether this difference is related to sex steroids. The effects of cross-sex hormone administration on plasma tHcy levels were therefore investigated.
A substantial reduction in plasma tHcy levels was found in male subjects after estrogen + antiandrogen administration. Because of simultaneous administration of antiandrogens, the observed effects may not be ascribed solely to estrogen administration. Conversely, a significant increase in plasma tHcy levels after testosterone administration was found in female subjects. This may have implications for the use of androgens in the treatment of hypoandrogenic males and for their growing use as a substitution therapy in aging males or as a contraceptive agent in reproductive males. There have been reports of young weight lifters, using androgens, who developed myocardial infarction and stroke.
Besides possible direct effects of the administered sex steroids on homocysteine metabolism, there also may be changes in plasma tHcy levels secondary to other biological effects of these steroids.
