Background: Younger age at the onset of menopause, and lower circulating levels of estrogen, are risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Several studies have detected associations between variations in genes encoding estrogen receptors alpha (ESR1) and beta (ESR2) and enzyme aromatase (CYP19A1), which regulates the estrogen to testosterone ratio, and cardiovascular phenotypes in the Framingham Heart Study (FHS). To explore potential mechanisms by which these gene variants may contribute to CVD, we tested the hypothesis that the polymorphisms were associated with endogenous steroid hormone levels.

Methods: Multiple regression analysis was used to assess the relation between reported polymorphisms and total serum estradiol, testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels in 834 men and 687 women who attended the third and fourth FHS examination cycles.

Results: In men, significant associations were detected between CYP19A1 polymorphisms and estradiol and testosterone levels and estradiol/testosterone ratio (P ranges 0.0005–0.01). Specifically, carriers of common haplotype rs700518[G]-(TTTA)_n [L]-rs726547[C] had higher estradiol levels (5% per copy; P = 0.0004), lower testosterone levels (17% per copy; P = 0.036), and higher estradiol/testosterone ratio (24% per copy; P < 0.0001) compared to the rs700518[A]-(TTTA)_n [S]-rs726547[C] carriers. Also, postmenopausal carriers of the ESR2 (CA)_n long allele and rs1256031 [C] allele had moderately higher estradiol levels (P 0.03). No significant associations with the ESR1 variants were detected.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that variations in CYP19A1 correlate with steroid hormone levels in men. Knowledge that a specific carrier status may predispose to altered steroid hormone levels may lead to targeted intervention strategies to reduce health risks in genetically susceptible individuals.