| ITEM METADATA RECORD |
| Title: | Low free testosterone is associated with hypogonadal symptoms in men with normal total testosterone levels: results from the European Male Ageing Study |
| Authors: | Antonio, Leen
Wu, Frederick
O'Neill, Terrence
Pye, Stephen
Carter, Emma
Finn, Joseph
Laurent, Michaël
Huhtaniemi, Ilpo
Rutter, Martin
Rastrelli, Giulia
Forti, Gianni
Bartfai, Gyorgy
Casanueva, Felipe
Kula, Krzysztof
Punab, Margus
Giwercman, Aleksander
Claessens, Frank
Decallonne, Brigitte
Vanderschueren, Dirk |
| Issue Date: | May-2015 |
| Host Document: | Endocrine abstracts vol:37 |
| Conference: | European Congress of Endocrinology edition:17th location:Dublin date:16-20 May 2015 |
| Article number: | OC2.4 |
| Abstract: | Background: During ageing, total testosterone (TT) declines and SHBG increases, resulting in a greater decline of free testosterone (FT) compared to TT. However, guidelines suggest using TT to diagnose androgen deficiency and to reserve FT only for men with borderline TT. We investigated if isolated low FT or isolated low TT was associated with androgen-related endpoints in healthy men.
Methods: 3369 community-dwelling men, aged 40-79, were included. We assessed differences between men with both normal TT (≥10.5 nmol/L) and calculated FT (≥220 pmol/L) (referent), men with normal TT/low FT (group 1) and men with low TT/normal FT (group 2) by descriptive statistics and ordinal logistic regression adjusted for age, centre, BMI and comorbidities.
Results: 2540 men had normal TT (18.4±5.5 [mean±SD] nmol/L) and FT (326±75 pmol/L). There were 261 men in group 1 (normal TT (14.2±3.7 nmol/L), low FT (195±22 pmol/L)) and 92 men in group 2 (low TT (9.6±0.7 nmol/L), normal FT (247±20 pmol/L)).
Compared to referent, men in group 1 were older and had higher SHBG, whereas group 2 was younger and had lower SHBG. BMI was higher in both groups. Men in group 1, but not group 2, were in poorer health and had lower haemoglobin. Regression analysis showed that men in group 1 had less frequent morning erections (p=0.012), more erectile dysfunction (p<0.001) and more physical symptoms (limited vigorous activity (p=0.011), walking 1 km (p=0.026) and bending (p=0.005)). Compared to referent, sexual and physical symptoms did not differ in group 2.
Conclusions: Independent of age, BMI and comorbidities, men with isolated low FT, but normal TT, have more androgen deficiency-related symptoms than men with normal TT and FT levels; whereas symptoms do not differ in men with isolated low TT. Not only total, but also FT levels should therefore be assessed in men with hypogonadal symptoms. |
| Publication status: | published |
| KU Leuven publication type: | IMa |
| Appears in Collections: | Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology
Gerontology and Geriatrics
Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology
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