Hidden Hormone Health Risk for Aging Men

On average, estogen in men can be at a higher level than postmenopausal women, which may be one reason men may be less prone to osteoporosis than women. However, this condition of "porous bone" can affect both women and men. In fact, it is estimated that one out of every twelve men has osteoporosis, which increases the risk of dangerous bone fractures as people age. Estimates show that 25 percent of elderly people who suffer a hip fracture die within one year, while nearly half who survive have remaining disability or need nursing home care. In this case, a low amount of estradiol can increase the risk of osteoporosis [1].


Harmful Effects of Too Much Estradiol

Excessive levels of estradiol can increase the risk of stroke by 2.2 times according to a 2007 study, which looked at 2,197 men between the ages of 71 and 93. After adjusting for other variables, it appeared that men with the highest levels of estradiol had a significantly increased risk of stroke [2].

Heart attack risk is increased with an excessive amount of estradiol in men's blood. A 2007 study of men with acute heart attacks found notably higher levels of estradiol in these men compared to others with no coronary disease. [3]

Healthy Estrogen levels in Men

Estrogen in men is measured in terms of the amount of estradiol in the blood. Estradiol is the active part of estrogen in males. Since both too much and too little estradiol can have serious health consequences, men and their doctors should be aware that the low level range runs from 2.0 to 18.1 pg/Ml and the upper is a reading above 34.3 pg/Ml [4].

Sources

[1] Napoli, N., et al. "Estrogen metabolism modulates bone density in men," Calcified Tissue International 2007 Apr;80(4):227-32
[2] Abbott, RD, et al. "Serum estradiol and risk of stroke in elderly men," Neurology 2007 Feb 20;68(8):563-8.
[3] Mohammad, MJ, et al. "Serum levels of sex hormones in men with acute myocardial infarction," Neuro Endocrinology Letters 2007 Apr;28(2):182-6.
[4] Shreyasee, A, et al. " Estradiol, testosterone, and the risk for hip fractures in elderly men from the Framingham Study," The American Journal of Medicine 2005 May 119;(5):426-33.