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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 23, 2026

A Hyperandrogenic Mouse Model to Study Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

A Hyperandrogenic Mouse Model to Study Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Published on: October 2, 2018

Late-onset hypogonadism: beyond testosterone.

Carlo Foresta¹, Aldo E Calogero, Francesco Lombardo

¹Department of Medicine and Centre for Human Reproduction Pathology, University of Padova, Padova 35128, Italy.

Asian Journal of Andrology

|September 25, 2014

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Calcidiol, not cholecalciferol, effectively restores vitamin D levels in men with hypogonadism. This finding is crucial for managing low 25-hydroxyvitamin D in patients with low or subclinical testosterone levels.

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Area of Science:

Endocrinology
Nutritional Science
Men's Health

Background:

Late-onset hypogonadism involves low testosterone and symptoms, but Leydig cell function can be subtle.
Subclinical hypogonadism, characterized by normal testosterone but high luteinizing hormone, may require additional markers like 25-hydroxyvitamin D.
Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D is common in hypogonadism due to impaired testicular CYP2R1 activity.

Purpose of the Study:

To compare the efficacy of cholecalciferol versus calcidiol in restoring 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in men with hypogonadism.
To evaluate the impact of vitamin D supplementation on parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels in hypogonadal men.

Main Methods:

A study involving 66 men with classic or subclinical hypogonadism and low 25-hydroxyvitamin D.
Participants received either cholecalciferol (5000 IU/week) or calcidiol (4000 IU/week) for 3 months.
Measurements included 25-hydroxyvitamin D and PTH levels before and after treatment.

Main Results:

Calcidiol significantly increased 25-hydroxyvitamin D and decreased PTH in both hypogonadal groups.
Cholecalciferol supplementation did not alter 25-hydroxyvitamin D or PTH levels.
This is the first study to demonstrate calcidiol's effectiveness in normalizing vitamin D in hypogonadal men.

Conclusions:

Calcidiol is the effective form of vitamin D supplementation for restoring 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in men with hypogonadism.
Cholecalciferol is ineffective in this patient population.
These findings offer a new therapeutic approach for managing vitamin D deficiency in hypogonadal men.