In older men an optimal plasma testosterone is associated with reduced all-cause mortality and higher dihydrotestosterone with reduced ischemic heart disease mortality, while estradiol levels do not predict mortality

Yeap, BB; Alfonso, H; Chubb, SA; Handelsman, DJ; Hankey, GJ; Almeida, OP; Golledge, J; Norman, PE; Flicker, L

HERO ID

7353078

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2014

Language

English

PMID

24257908

HERO ID 7353078
In Press No
Year 2014
Title In older men an optimal plasma testosterone is associated with reduced all-cause mortality and higher dihydrotestosterone with reduced ischemic heart disease mortality, while estradiol levels do not predict mortality
Authors Yeap, BB; Alfonso, H; Chubb, SA; Handelsman, DJ; Hankey, GJ; Almeida, OP; Golledge, J; Norman, PE; Flicker, L
Journal Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
Volume 99
Issue 1
Page Numbers E9-18
Abstract <strong>CONTEXT: </strong>Testosterone (T) levels decline with age and lower T has been associated with increased mortality in aging men. However, the associations of its metabolites, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and estradiol (E2), with mortality are poorly defined.<br /><br /><strong>OBJECTIVE: </strong>We assessed associations of T, DHT, and E2 with all-cause and ischemic heart disease (IHD) mortality in older men.<br /><br /><strong>PARTICIPANTS: </strong>Participants were community-dwelling men aged 70 to 89 years who were residing in Perth, Western Australia.<br /><br /><strong>MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: </strong>Plasma total T, DHT, and E2 were assayed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in early morning samples collected in 2001 to 2004 from 3690 men. Deaths to December 2010 were ascertained by data linkage.<br /><br /><strong>RESULTS: </strong>There were 974 deaths (26.4%), including 325 of IHD. Men who died had lower baseline T (12.8±5.1 vs 13.2±4.8 nmol/L [mean±SD], P=.013), DHT (1.4±0.7 vs 1.5±0.7 nmol/L, P=.002), and E2 (71.6±29.3 vs 74.0±29.0 pmol/L, P=.022). After allowance for other risk factors, T and DHT were associated with all-cause mortality (T: quartile [Q] Q2:Q1, adjusted hazard ratio [HR]=0.82, P=.033; Q3:Q1, HR=0.78, P=.010; Q4:Q1, HR=0.86, P>.05; DHT: Q3:Q1, HR=0.76, P=.003; Q4:Q1, HR=0.84, P>.05). Higher DHT was associated with lower IHD mortality (Q3:Q1, HR=0.58, P=.002; Q4:Q1, HR=0.69, P=.026). E2 was not associated with either all-cause or IHD mortality.<br /><br /><strong>CONCLUSIONS: </strong>Optimal androgen levels are a biomarker for survival because older men with midrange levels of T and DHT had the lowest death rates from any cause, whereas those with higher DHT had lower IHD mortality. Further investigations of the biological basis for these associations including randomized trials of T supplementation are needed.
Doi 10.1210/jc.2013-3272
Pmid 24257908
Wosid WOS:000333402200002
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Is Public Yes
Language Text English