Low Plasma Testosterone Is Associated With Elevated Cardiovascular Disease Biomarkers

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Biomarker Research

Background:

• The relationship between testosterone (T) levels and cardiovascular (CV) risk is not well-defined, with conflicting evidence suggesting risks at both low and high T concentrations.
• Previous studies have rarely used objective biomarkers to assess CV risk in relation to plasma T levels.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between circulating testosterone levels and a comprehensive panel of high-sensitivity cardiovascular risk biomarkers in men.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from 10,041 male patients from a clinical laboratory database.
• Patients were stratified by total testosterone concentration.
• Associations were examined with 10 objective CV risk biomarkers, including cardiac troponin I, endothelin-1, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, HDL cholesterol, hs-CRP, HbA1c, and leptin.

Main Results:

• An inverse relationship between plasma T levels and CV risk markers was observed for 9 out of 10 biomarkers assessed.
• Specifically, lower T levels were associated with elevated levels of cTnI, ET-1, IL-6, TNF-α, NTproBNP, hs-CRP, HbA1c, and leptin.
• Even after adjusting for covariates, T levels below 250 ng/dL remained significantly associated with increased levels of IL-6, ET-1, NTproBNP, and leptin.

Conclusions:

• Low plasma testosterone levels in men are associated with increased cardiovascular risk biomarkers.
• These findings suggest that men with low testosterone may face a heightened risk of cardiovascular disease.
• This study provides novel insights into the link between testosterone and CV risk using a broad array of objective biomarkers.