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Biomedical subjects

Susan R Miller

Publications and source records attributed to Susan R Miller.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Genetic polymorphisms, hormone levels, and hot flashes in midlife women.

OBJECTIVE: Hot flashes disrupt the lives of millions of women each year. Although hot flashes are a public health concern, little is known about risk factors that predispose women to hot flashes. Thus, the objective of this study was to examine whether sex steroid hormone levels and genetic polymorphisms in hormone biosynthesis and degradation enzymes are associated with the risk of hot flashes. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study design, midlife women aged 45-54 years (n=639) were recruited from Baltimore and its surrounding counties. Participants completed a questionnaire and donated a blood sample for steroid hormone analysis and genotyping. The associations between genetic polymorphisms and hormone levels, as well as the associations between genetic polymorphisms, hormone levels, and hot flashes were examined using statistical models. RESULTS: A polymorphism in CYP1B1 was associated with lower dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S) and progesterone levels, while a polymorphism in CYP19 (aromatase) was associated with higher testosterone and DHEA-S levels. Lower progesterone and sex hormone binding globulin levels, lower free estradiol index, and a higher ratio of total androgens to total estrogens were associated with the experiencing of hot flashes. A polymorphism in CYP1B1 and a polymorphism in 3betaHSD were both associated with hot flashes. CONCLUSION: Some genetic polymorphisms may be associated with altered levels of hormones in midlife women. Further, selected genetic polymorphisms and altered hormone levels may be associated with the risk of hot flashes in midlife women.

Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases↗
PubMed2006

Cigarette smoking, estrogen levels, and hot flashes in midlife women.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to examine the association of smoking with the occurrence, frequency, and severity of hot flashes and to determine whether the mechanism by which active cigarette smoking increases the risk of hot flashes is by lowering estradiol and estrone levels. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted among women aged 45-54 years to examine risk factors for hot flashes. Cases were women who reported ever experiencing hot flashes (n = 353). Controls were women who reported never experiencing hot flashes (n = 258). Each participant completed a questionnaire and provided a blood sample that was used to measure estradiol and estrone levels. RESULTS: The results showed that both current and ever smokers had higher odds than never smokers of experiencing any and more severe hot flashes. Further, significant positive associations were observed between frequency and duration of smoking and the experiencing of any and more severe hot flashes. Smoking was not associated with estradiol or estrone levels in univariate analyses. In addition, the odds ratios for the associations between the cigarette smoking variables and hot flashes did not change when the hormone variables were added to the model. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that smoking is associated with the occurrence of any and more severe hot flashes, independent of estrogen levels.

Baltimore↗
PubMed2006

Association between race and hot flashes in midlife women.

OBJECTIVE: Studies suggest that African American women may have a greater risk of hot flashes compared to Caucasian women, but the reasons for this are unknown. This study tested the hypothesis that African American women have an increased risk of hot flashes due to racial differences in risk factors for hot flashes, including high body mass index (BMI) and lower estrogen levels. METHODS: A population-based study was conducted among women aged 45-54 years. Participants were divided into women who reported ever experiencing hot flashes (n=356) and women who reported never experiencing hot flashes (n=257). Participants provided a blood sample for hormone assays, were weighed and measured, and completed a questionnaire. RESULTS: Among peri-menopausal women, African American women were more likely than Caucasian women to report any hot flashes (RR=2.08), severe hot flashes (RR=2.19), and hot flashes for more than 5 years (RR=1.61). The risk ratios for the associations between race and the hot flash outcomes were attenuated after controlling for other important hot flash risk factors (i.e. obesity and low estrogen levels). CONCLUSIONS: African American women have an increased risk of hot flashes compared to Caucasian women due to racial differences in a number of risk factors for hot flashes, including advanced age, obesity, current smoking, less than 12 drinks in the past year, and lower estrogen levels.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed2005

Current alcohol use is associated with a reduced risk of hot flashes in midlife women.

AIMS: To examine the relation between current alcohol use, estradiol, estrone, and testosterone levels, and hot flashes in midlife women using a case-control study design. METHODS: Cases were midlife women (45-54 years) who reported ever experiencing hot flashes. Controls were midlife women (45-54 years) who reported never experiencing hot flashes. Each participant completed a questionnaire and provided a blood sample that was used to measure estradiol, estrone, and testosterone levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The results indicate that current alcohol use (at least one day per month) was significantly associated with a reduced risk of hot flashes compared to non-use of alcohol, independent of age and smoking habits. The hot flashes experienced by current alcohol users were less severe and less frequent than those experienced by non-users of alcohol. Further, current alcohol users had similar levels of estradiol, estrone, and testosterone compared to non-users of alcohol. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that current alcohol use is associated with a reduced risk of any, severe, and frequent hot flashes in midlife women by a mechanism that may not include changes in sex steroid hormone levels.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed2005

Body mass, estrogen levels, and hot flashes in midlife women.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to determine whether body mass index (BMI) is associated with hot flashes and whether the mechanism by which BMI increases the risk of hot flashes is by lowering estrogen levels. STUDY DESIGN: A case-control study was conducted among midlife women to examine risk factors for hot flashes. Cases were women who reported experiencing hot flashes (n = 353). Controls were women who reported never experiencing hot flashes (n = 258). Each participant completed a questionnaire and provided a blood sample for estrogen measurement. RESULTS: Compared with normal weight women, very obese women had significantly higher odds of hot flashes. The odds ratios remained elevated although attenuated when the hormone variables were added to the model. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that very obese women are at increased risk for hot flashes compared with normal weight women. Estrogen levels may partly explain this relationship; however, other mechanisms appear to be involved as well.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2005

Cytochrome gene polymorphisms, serum estrogens, and hot flushes in midlife women.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether genetic polymorphisms in selected cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYPc17alpha, CYP1A1, and CYP1B1), estradiol (E2) levels, and estrone levels were associated with hot flushes. METHODS: Women with hot flushes were those aged 45-54 years who reported ever experiencing hot flushes (n = 354). Women without hot flushes were those aged 45-54 years who reported never experiencing hot flushes (n = 258). Each participant completed a questionnaire and provided a blood sample for determination of genotypes, E2 levels, and estrone levels. RESULTS: Carriers of the CYP1B1 (Val432Leu) polymorphism were more likely to report having any hot flushes (risk ratio [RR] 1.16, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.98-1.37) and at least weekly hot flushes (RR 1.29, 95% CI 0.98-1.70) than women without the polymorphism, although these associations were of borderline statistical significance. In addition, carriers of the CYP1B1 polymorphism were likely to have a statistically significant 30% increased risk of reporting moderate to severe hot flushes (RR 1.30, 95% CI 1.02-1.67) and a statistically significant 27% increased risk of reporting hot flushes lasting a year or more (RR 1.27, 95% CI 1.00-1.61) compared with women without the polymorphism. There were no associations between CYP1A1 or CYPc17alpha polymorphisms and hot flushes. Low E2 and estrone levels were associated with hot flushes, but they did not alter the association between the CYP1B1 polymorphism and hot flushes. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that a CYP1B1 polymorphism may be associated with severe and persistent hot flushes, independent of E2 and estrone levels.

Cohort Studies↗