Irish and US scientists have discovered how the female hormone, oestrogen, can reduce the risk of liver and heart disease in women.

They discovered a new type of oestrogen receptor, which controls oestrogen-responsive genes that are responsible for regulating the production of fatty acid and cholesterol in the body.

A receptor is a molecule found in cells, which receives chemical signals from outside the cell. When an external receptor, i.e. oestrogen, binds to a receptor, it directs the cell to do something, such as die or divide.

The scientists from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and the University of California (UC Irvine) discovered that oestrogen binds to this new type of oestrogen receptor at the cell membrane. This activates a network of enzymes which slow down SREB - a regulator of genes which usually promotes the build-up of cholesterol in the liver.

The scientists also discovered that oestrogen suppresses lipid (fat) metabolism in general, including the accumulation of triglycerides. These are a harmful type of blood fat, which are often found in people with high levels of ‘bad' cholesterol.

Commenting on their findings, lead RCSI scientist, Prof Brian Harvey, noted that oestrogen ‘tends to protect women against high cholesterol and heart disease during the child-bearing ears'.

"Our research has allowed us to gain important insights into how oestrogen may suppress some genes and prevent excessive accumulation of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood that can progress to heart disease and liver cancers," he explained.

He added that this ‘leaves the door open for the development of drugs that can decrease the incidence of liver and heart disease in women'.

Meanwhile, according to UC Irvine lead scientist, Dr Ellis Levin, oestrogen ‘may be a deterrent to liver cancer, as men get this type of cancer at a rate of four-to-six times more than women'.

Details of these findings are published in the journal, Science Signalling.

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