Longitudinal Changes in Sex Hormones in a Population of Older Community-dwelling Men

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Abstract
Context: Based on cross-sectional studies and short longitudinal studies, levels of sex hormones (SHs) change with age in men. However, there are limited data about SHs in men older than age 80 years and few longitudinal studies >10 years. Objective: The aim of this study was to characterize SH concentrations in older men and assess long-term changes. Methods: We studied 477 community-dwelling men, ages 78 to 97 years, who participated in the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men study. Medical history was obtained via clinical visits and questionnaires. Serum sex steroid levels (testosterone, estradiol, estrogen, DHT) were assayed using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, free testosterone by equilibrium dialysis, and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) by radioimmunoassay. In 215 men, SH levels were compared to levels obtained 14.0 ± 0.65 years earlier. Results: In cross-sectional analyses, mean total testosterone levels were 413.9 ± 180.0, with considerable variation among participants. In 21.4%, total testosterone levels were <275 ng/dL. Similarly, directly measured free testosterone levels were low ( 275 ng/dL at baseline, testosterone levels decreased to <275 ng/dL in 20.5%. Conclusion: In old men, there was a broad range of total testosterone levels, and a significant fraction were in a range considered hypogonadal. In longitudinal analyses, although there was considerable interindividual variation, gradual declines in mean total testosterone continued in the 8th through 10th decades of life.
Funding Information
  • Osteoporotic Fractures in Men
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute on Aging
  • National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
  • National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (U01 AG027810)
  • National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (U01 AG042124)
  • National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (U01 AG042139)
  • National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (U01 AG042140)
  • National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (U01 AG042143)
  • National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (U01 AG042145)
  • National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (U01 AG042168)
  • National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (U01 AR066160)
  • National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (R01 AG066671)
  • National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (UL1 TR002369)
  • National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health (TL1TR002371)
  • Boston Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center National Institute on Aging (5P30AG031679)

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