Gender-specific normal levels of myocardial metabolites determined by localized 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

OBJECTIVE

Gender-specific normal concentrations of myocardial metabolites and the differences that might exist between healthy males and females were measured in vivo using 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS).

METHODS

A total of 100 healthy individuals (57 males, 43 females) were studied. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and localized 1H-MRS were used to localize the voxels and quantify myocardial metabolite concentrations, respectively, for each gender.

RESULTS

A total of 14 participants were excluded because of motion and poor spectra, which meant that 86 participants (46 males, 40 females) were included in the final analysis. Spectral peaks were identified with chemical shifts corresponding to water, choline, creatine and triglyceride. Myocardial choline and creatine levels showed no statistically significant differences between males and females. Females had a significantly lower body mass index and body surface area compared with males, and a significantly higher concentration of myocardial triglycerides.

CONCLUSIONS

Myocardial triglyceride concentration was shown to be related to gender, whereas myocardial creatine and choline concentrations were not gender-related.