Microsoft word - estradiol nacda final.doc

Estradiol
Salivary Estradiol Measurement in Wave I of the Social Life Health & Aging
Project
Authors:
Karl Mendoza, BS, University of Chicago, Department of Ob/Gyn
Mary Curran, Salimetrics LLC
Stacy Tessler Lindau, MD, MAPP, University of Chicago, Departments of Ob/Gyn and Medicine –
Geriatrics*
* Corresponding author. Fax: +1 773 834 5664.
E-mail address: slindau@uchicago.edu (S.T. Lindau).
Suggested Citation: Mendoza, K., M. Curran, and S.T. Lindau. (2007). Salivary Estradiol
Measurement in Wave I of the National Social Life, Health & Aging Project (NSHAP). Chicago
Core on Biomarkers in Population-Based Aging Research
http://biomarkers.uchicago.edu/pdfs/TR-Estradiol.pdf
Date: December 17, 2007
Contents
Rationale
Estradiol (17-beta-estradiol or E2), a steroid hormone derived from cholesterol, targets a variety of tissues, located in the female and male reproductive tracts, mammary gland, and skeletal and cardiovascular systems (Hall, Couse et al. 2001). Among women, it is primarily synthesized from testosterone in the ovarian follicles, whereas among men, it is produced by the testes and extraglandular conversion of androgens (Tivis, Richardson et al. 2005; Salimetrics 2006). In women, estradiol synthesis normally declines after menopause (Manly, Merchant et al. 2000; Meston and Frohlich 2000). This causes decreased vaginal lubrication and atrophy of the vaginal epithelium, due to diminished genital vasocongestion (Meston and Frohlich 2000). Though the role of estrogens in female sexual desire is not fully understood, they may influence sexual desire (Dennerstein, Gotts et al. 1994; Meston and Frohlich 2000); estrogen replacement therapy may indirectly enhance female sexuality, by restoring vaginal lubrication (Meston and Frohlich 2000) or promoting positive body image and overall sense of well-being. A number of studies have linked higher levels of serum estradiol to increased risk for developing breast cancer (Clemons and Goss 2001; Chlebowski, Hendrix et al. 2003; Tivis, Richardson et al. 2005) and coronary problems (Manson, Hsia et al. 2003; Tivis, Richardson et al. 2005). For women, higher estradiol levels have also been associated with improved cognition (Maki and Resnick 2000; Carlson, Zandi et al. 2001; Tivis, Richardson et al. 2005), mood, and memory (Tivis, Richardson et al. 2005). Estradiol’s effects on women’s skeletal health, however, are inconclusive. For elderly men, estradiol may have a role, in combination with testosterone and other factors, in preservation of memory and cognitive function (Barrett-Connor, Goodman-Gruen et al. 1999; Carlson and Sherwin 2000). Measurement
Sex hormone assays, particularly in the clinical setting, are typically performed on a serum specimen (Kaufman and Lamster 2002). Salivary measures have been developed and offer a relatively convenient and minimally-invasive approach for obtaining sex hormone data (Worthman, Stallings et al. 1990; Kaufman and Lamster 2002; Granger, Shirtcliff et al. 2004). These measures are representative of active, unbound steroid concentrations in the blood (Worthman, Stallings et al. 1990; Lu, Bentley et al. 1999). In the case of estradiol, good correlation between salivary and serum levels have been reported (Worthman, Stallings et al. 1990), including one study of people ages 18 to 28 (Shirtcliff, Granger et al. 2000) (n = 31) finding a correlation of r = 0.68 (p < 0.001), where a stronger, significant association was detected among women (n = 16, r = 0.60, p < 0.013) than men (n = 15, r = 0.60, p>0.05). Reported salivary concentrations, relative to free serum concentrations, have varied (Worthman, Stallings et al. 1990) from 0.2% to 7.90% (Lu, Bentley et al. 1999). In one study, salivary estradiol concentrations accounted for, on average, 1.65% of serum concentrations among men, and 3.33% among women (Shirtcliff, Granger et al. 2000). Among premenopausal women, salivary estradiol levels vary significantly across the menstrual cycle (Shirtcliff, Granger et al. 2000), with the lowest levels occurring during menstruation (Shirtcliff, Granger et al. 2000; Salimetrics 2006). Population Norms

To our knowledge, population-based, published literature on salivary estradiol levels, particularly
for postmenopausal women and older men, are limited.

Table 1. Mean Serum and Salivary Estradiol Levels
SALIVARY
Age Range
Perimenopausal women, mean age: 46.25 (SD = 2.63) *Women who were undergoing estrogen therapy had a significantly higher serum estradiol level (p < 0.0001) [1] Shirtcliff et al. 2000 [2] Tivis et al. 2005 [3] Lasley et al. 2002 [4] Randolph et al. 2003 Specimen Collection

All respondents were asked to provide a salivary specimen; 90.8% (N=2,721) agreed, 2,640
respondents were able to provide a salivary specimen. This involved production of approximately
2 milliliters of saliva (unstimulated passive drool) into a small, code-labeled polypropylene
collection vial via a 5-centimeter section of a household plastic straw, following procedures
recommended by Salimetrics, LLC. The procedure required approximately 5 minutes. The time of
last food or water consumption prior to saliva collection was recorded.
Storage and Shipping
The salivary specimens were transported from the interview to a freezer using cold packs. Salivary specimens were stored in a freezer until they were shipped. The salivary samples were shipped to the lab on dry ice according to instructions. Upon receipt at Salimetrics, specimens were stored at -80°C in lab grade freezers. Shipping Address 101 Innovation Blvd., Suite #302
(see Salimetrics Salivary Estradiol Enzyme Immunoassay Kit package insert for details http://salimetrics.com/pdf/HS%20Estradiol%20E2%20Kit%20Insert.pdf ) On day of assay, the specimens were thawed completely, vortexed, and centrifuged at 1500 x g (@3000 rpm) for 15 minutes. Clear samples were pipetted into wells. The enzyme immunoassay was conducted at Salimetrics, LLC. The assay range was > 1 pg/ml. Assays were conducted in the following priority order: 1) estrogen, 2) progesterone, 3) DHEA, 4) testosterone, 5) cotinine and underwent 2 to 3 freeze-thaw cycles: thaw #1: sex hormone assays
thaw #2: a subset underwent repeat sex hormone testing based on quality indicators
thaw #3: cotinine assay

Table 2. NSHAP Salivary Testing Performed at Salimetrics
detected
Interference likely if
Calibrator* Calibrator*
sensitivity
reported if
* Calibrator values are used to adjust instrumentation by establishing the relationship (under specified conditions) between known, standard values and the values indicated by a particular measuring instrument. See package insert for calibration curve. Scoring
Values reported in picograms per milliliter (pg/mL). Assay range ≥ 1 pg/mL.
Performance Characteristics

A. Precision
Table 3.

Reproduced with permission from Estradiol Quantitative Immunoassay Kit, 1-3702/1-3712, 96-Well Kit, April 10, 2006 (Salimetrics 2006) B. Sensitivity
The lower limit of sensitivity was determined by interpolating the mean minus 2 SD’s of the optical
densities of 10 sets of duplicates at the 0 pg/mL standard. The minimal concentration of estradiol
that can be distinguished from 0 is less than 1.0 pg/mL.
C. Correlation with Serum

The correlation between saliva and serum estradiol in females was determined by assaying 11
matched samples. Samples were screened for pH and blood contamination. The magnitude of
the saliva-serum correlation, r= 0.80, p <0.001, is consistent with the literature, in that the saliva-
serum correlation is stronger among women, than men (Shirtcliff, Granger et al. 2000), and intra-
subject correlation is higher, compared to between-subjects (Ellison and Lipson 1999). The
conversion equation from salivary concentration to serum concentration for this particular
estradiol assay is:
Serum E2 (pg/mL) = 2.171*salivary E2 (pg/mL) +7.1846.
D. Specificity of Antiserum
Table 4.
Reproduced with permission from Estradiol Quantitative Immunoassay Kit, 1-3702/1-3712, 96-Well Kit, April 10, 2006 (Salimetrics 2006) E. Recovery
Table 5.
Reproduced with permission from Estradiol Quantitative Immunoassay Kit, 1-3702/1-3712, 96-Well Kit, April 10, 2006 (Salimetrics 2006)
F. Linearity of Dilution

Table 6.
Reproduced with permission from Estradiol Quantitative Immunoassay Kit, 1-3702/1-3712, 96-Well Kit, April 10, 2006 (Salimetrics 2006)
Quality Control (see Table 2)

Run on each EIA test plate were six (6) standard calibrators ranging from 2 pg/mL to 64
pg/mL and two sets of high and low controls. The control ranges were established using a
minimum of 10 sets of data points across 10 plates. The mean and standard deviations were
calculated and a range was established (mean +/- 2 S.D.). A sufficient number of assay kits
and controls were sequestered for the project to minimize any lot-to-lot variations over the
course of the study.
Subjects’ saliva samples were run in duplicate (saliva pipetted into side-by-side wells) on a
single EIA plate. Assay results for each subject were acceptable when the values: 1.) fell
within the range of the calibrators (2 pg/mL - 64 pg/mL) , 2.) were >1 pg/mL, and 3.) the
coefficient of variation (%CV) between the duplicate results (result 1 and result 2) was <15%.
In instances where the %CV between duplicates was >15%, results were accepted if the
absolute value between result 1 and result 2 was <2 pg/mL. Values greater than the upper
assay limit of 64 pg/mL were run on dilution to bring the OD readings within acceptable range
(2 pg/mL - 64 pg/mL). In instances when a sample returned an extremely high result,
dilutions were made up to 320 pg/mL and a flag (**) and comment “interference likely” were
added to the report. Samples with results < 1pg/mL were also repeated. Values falling
between 0.5 pg/mL and 1 pg/mL were reported and flagged (*) with the comment “below
lower limit of assay”. Estradiol values less than 0.5 pg/mL were reported as “none detected”.
Estradiol data were compiled in ExcelTM by the testing manager and checked for accuracy by
the technical supervisor before final reports were emailed. Data was supplied with
corresponding assay plate number to facilitate the calculation of intra-assay and inter-assay
control values.
Availability

Product Name
High Sensitivity Salivary Estradiol Enzyme Immunoassay Kit Manufacturer
Location of
Manufacturer
State College, PA 16803 USA 800-790-2258 (USA & Canada only) Catalog No.
References

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Carlson, L. E. and B. B. Sherwin (2000). "Higher levels of plasma estradiol and testosterone in healthy elderly men compared with age-matched women may protect aspects of explicit
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Carlson, M. C., P. P. Zandi, et al. (2001). "Hormone replacement therapy and reduced cognitive decline in older women: the Cache County Study." Neurology 57(12): 2210-6.
Chlebowski, R. T., S. L. Hendrix, et al. (2003). "Influence of estrogen plus progestin on breast cancer and mammography in healthy postmenopausal women: the Women's Health
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Clemons, M. and P. Goss (2001). "Estrogen and the risk of breast cancer." N Engl J Med 344(4):
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Source: http://biomarkers.uchicago.edu/pdfs/TR-Estradiol.pdf