Age-specific population centiles for androgen status in men

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Andrology
• Gerontology

Background:

• Circulating testosterone and its metabolites, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and estradiol (E2), play crucial roles in male health.
• Age-specific reference ranges for these hormones in men are not well-established.
• Understanding hormonal changes across the lifespan is vital for men's health research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine age-specific centiles for serum testosterone, DHT, and E2 in Australian men.
• To identify determinants of circulating androgen levels across the adult lifespan.

Main Methods:

• Pooled data from 10,904 serum samples from Australian men aged 35-100 years.
• Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used for steroid measurements.
• Large sample data analysis methods were employed to deduce smoothed age-specific centiles.

Main Results:

• Serum testosterone, DHT, and E2 levels showed a gradual decline from age 35 onwards.
• A more pronounced decrease in these hormones was observed after age 80.
• Higher body weight, BMI, body surface area, and shorter stature were associated with reduced androgen levels.

Conclusions:

• Australian men experience a progressive decline in androgen status with aging, accelerating after 80 years.
• Obesity and short stature are significant factors associated with reduced androgen status.
• Future research should consider comorbidities in the context of age-related androgen decline for clinical trial design.