Age-independent secular testosterone populational trends among Brazilian males

Disruptions in testosterone levels are a cause of great morbidity to male patients, with effects ranging from impotence to increased cardiovascular risk. This study analyzes populational testosterone trends in South American males over a period of 8 years.

Between 2010 and 2017, Testosterone and Albumin measurements were performed in males over 19 years of age, in a routine male health program, and values outside laboratory normality ranges were excluded to reduce biases related to patients' pathologies. All data were collected on morning fasting and analyzed by tandem mass spectrometry. Data were compared by ANOVA tests with Tukey's post hoc analysis.

A total of 2874 measurements were made in 8 years, mean participant age 56.18 years (19-84). The study found an age-independent testosterone decline of 10.68 ng/dL (1.6%) per year, displaying drops per year of 13.46 ng/dL (2.5%) in participants ≤ 40 years old, 7.12 ng/dL (1.4%) at the 41-60-year-old age group, and 11.4 ng/dL (2.4%) per year in participants > 60 years old. The values of albumin displayed significant variations along the study period, but without any clear upward or downward trends in post hoc analysis.

The age-independent testosterone decline displays a worrying picture of possibly increasing rates of hypogonadism and its complications in the future. Further studies are needed to fully understand its etiology and impact in populations.