US Pharm. 2011;36(9):10.
London, England — The female sex hormone estrogen may help protect women from cardiovascular disease (CVD) by keeping the body’s immune system in check, according to research conducted at Queen Mary, University of London. Natural estrogen helps the protein annexin-1, which is more abundant in premenopausal women, prevent white blood cells from sticking to the insides of blood vessels and causing vascular damage. When activated, white blood cells stick to blood-vessel walls to tackle infection, but if this happens too often, blood-vessel damage can occur. These research results could help explain why CVD rates tend to be higher in men and soar in women after menopause.
To comment on this article, contact rdavidson@uspharmacist.com.
