Aging-related decline of gonadal function in healthy men: correlation with body composition and lipoproteins

To assess if androgen decline in physiological aging contributes to the concomitant changes in body composition and lipoprotein levels.

Cross-sectional, observational study.

A university-based outpatient center.

The study comprised 206 healthy volunteers (aged 18-95 years).

Blood samples were drawn after an overnight fast for the assay of hormones (free testosterone (FT), estradiol (E2), and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG)) and lipids (total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and lipoprotein Lp(a)). At the same time, body composition was assessed by both anthropometry (fat mass percentage (FM%) estimated from four measures of skinfold thickness using the Durnin and Womersley equation and the Siri equation) and by bioimpedance analysis (FM% estimated using the Segal or Deurenberg equations, respectively, for subjects younger or older than 62 years).

A significant age-related decline was found for FT and E2 concentrations, whereas SHBG levels were related positively with age. No significant association was apparent between hormonal changes and the concomitant modifications of body composition and lipoproteins. Only SHBG showed a significant inverse association between FM% and the waist-to-hip ratio, independent of age. The comparison between older hypogonadal (with FT levels below the lower limit of the normality range assessed in younger subjects) and eugonadal men did not show any significant differences in body composition or lipid profile.

This study suggests that, in men, androgen decline caused by normal aging does not significantly affect some targets of testosterone action, such as body composition and lipid metabolism. Therefore, androgen supplementation in hypogonadal older men cannot be expected to influence nutritional status and body composition to the same extent that it does other main targets of testosterone action, such as sexual activity and muscle strength. However, we cannot exclude that selected subsets of older patients with low testosterone levels, especially if affected by catabolic disease, could benefit from the effects of androgen administration on nutritional status.