Hypertension in Overweight and Obesity: Sex‐Specific Role of 4β‐Hydroxycholesterol
Abstract
Background We have previously proposed novel pathway in overweight/obesity‐induced hypertension involving plasma 4β‐hydroxycholesterol (4βHC), an agonist for LXR (liver X receptor), as a hypotensive factor. The aim was to determine sex‐specific roles of 4βHC in obesity‐induced hypertension in a cohort without blood pressure (BP) medications. Methods A study population (n=645) with wide body mass index range (19–47 kg/m 2 ) was analyzed for plasma 4βHC. Factors determining BP were analyzed in multiple linear regression analyses. Also, sex‐specific effects of pharmacologically elevated 4βHC, achieved through rifampicin administration, were evaluated. Results Plasma 4βHC correlated negatively with systolic BP and body mass index in both sexes. In men (n=282), the correlation between 4βHC and systolic BP was r =−0.19 ( P =0.002) and in women (n=363) r =−0.20 ( P
Fields of Study & Subjects
Cholesterol and Lipid Metabolism
Fatty Acid Research and Health
Hormonal and reproductive studies
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Journal of the American Heart Association
- Publisher
- Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- e043913–e043913
- Publication date
- 26 February 2026
- Language
- EN