Editorial: Role of estrogens as key regulators of energy homeostasis

Abstract

Over the last few decades, extensive research has revealed the metabolic importance of sex hormones and sex-specific molecular mechanisms beyond their role in reproduction. Strong evidence supports sexual dimorphism in homeostatic responses and in the incidence and evolution of metabolic diseases. Indeed, some health conditions have been shown to have a worse prognosis in women. Sex hormones play a critical role in shaping the molecular and cellular fate, by modulating their gene expression, cell-cycle, and even the pharmacokinetics of specific drugs. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial to design new therapies and sex-specific interventions to improve the effectiveness of healthcare while more efforts need to be directed towards drawing a more comprehensive description of the metabolic differences in both sexes.