About this Research Topic
Abdominal obesity is associated with increased metabolic dysfunction as well as increased cardiovascular risk. Adipose tissue is accepted as a dynamic organ with a critical role in the pathophysiology of different cardiovascular diseases. However, it is unclear whether the impact of the adipose tissue distribution on CVD risk is similar at all body mass index levels, and whether this association is similar for men and women.
Sex steroids play an essential role in the regulation of fat production as well as fat metabolism, migration, and function. In women, estrogens prevent fat accumulation during the fertile period, reduce inflammatory pathways in the adipocytes, and improve the insulin action. In men, androgens have the adipogenic capability, which increases insulin sensitivity and improves insulin resistance; consequently, there is a risk reduction of cardiovascular events.
Today, although there is a progress in the study of the effect of the sex hormones on the adipocytes metabolism and distribution, still it is unclear its role in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. There is controversial evidence suggesting that different fat types contribute to the high risk for a cardiovascular event. Thus, it is suggested that visceral fat contributes to a deleterious cardiovascular effect, while the subcutaneous fat has the opposite function. In this hypothesis, sex hormones may play a vital role, increasing or decreasing the fat mass in the mentioned depots and contributing to the fat metabolism's equilibrium. However, the role of the androgens in females, and estrogens in males, need further investigation.
The goal in this Research topic is to aid the understanding of the role of the body fat constitution as a cardiovascular risk factor, and whether this risk is similar for men and women. In addition to this, to determine if sex steroids play a specific role either in the health of females and males.
We aim to contribute to the understanding of the body fat role in cardiovascular disease in men and women. For that, we propose the following specific themes that can address this goal successfully:
- Sex differences and body fat distribution at different ages, and its association with cardiovascular risk factors.
- Role of adipocyte metabolism as a cardiovascular risk factor in males and females.
- Type of fat (white, beige, and brown) in men and women and its relationship with cardiovascular risk factors.
- Role of androgen in fat distribution in men and women and cardiovascular risk factors.
- Role of estrogen in fat distribution in women and men and cardiovascular risk factors.
Sex steroids play an essential role in the regulation of fat production as well as fat metabolism, migration, and function. In women, estrogens prevent fat accumulation during the fertile period, reduce inflammatory pathways in the adipocytes, and improve the insulin action. In men, androgens have the adipogenic capability, which increases insulin sensitivity and improves insulin resistance; consequently, there is a risk reduction of cardiovascular events.
Today, although there is a progress in the study of the effect of the sex hormones on the adipocytes metabolism and distribution, still it is unclear its role in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. There is controversial evidence suggesting that different fat types contribute to the high risk for a cardiovascular event. Thus, it is suggested that visceral fat contributes to a deleterious cardiovascular effect, while the subcutaneous fat has the opposite function. In this hypothesis, sex hormones may play a vital role, increasing or decreasing the fat mass in the mentioned depots and contributing to the fat metabolism's equilibrium. However, the role of the androgens in females, and estrogens in males, need further investigation.
The goal in this Research topic is to aid the understanding of the role of the body fat constitution as a cardiovascular risk factor, and whether this risk is similar for men and women. In addition to this, to determine if sex steroids play a specific role either in the health of females and males.
We aim to contribute to the understanding of the body fat role in cardiovascular disease in men and women. For that, we propose the following specific themes that can address this goal successfully:
- Sex differences and body fat distribution at different ages, and its association with cardiovascular risk factors.
- Role of adipocyte metabolism as a cardiovascular risk factor in males and females.
- Type of fat (white, beige, and brown) in men and women and its relationship with cardiovascular risk factors.
- Role of androgen in fat distribution in men and women and cardiovascular risk factors.
- Role of estrogen in fat distribution in women and men and cardiovascular risk factors.
Keywords: sex differences, obesity, fat distribution, sex steroids, cardiovascular disease
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