[Serum homocysteine and metabolic syndrome in middle-aged and elderly men].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship among serum reproductive hormone levels, serum homocysteine (Hcy) levels, metabolic syndrome (MS), and the components of MS in middle-aged and elderly males. METHODS: Using the cluster and stratified sampling methods and a unified structured questionnaire, we conducted a survey among 948 men aged 40 - 80 years in the rural community, measured their basic physical parameters, and obtained their reproductive hormone levels, serum Hcy concentrations, and metabolism-related indicators. We collected 868 valid questionnaires along with their serum samples, divided the subjects into an MS and a non-MS control group in a 1:1 ratio, and measured their serum Hcy concentrations. RESULTS: Among the subjects included, 132 were diagnosed with MS. Nonparametric tests showed statistically significant differences between the MS and non-MS groups in the waist circumference (WC), waist-hip ratio (WHR), body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (P < 0.05), but not in age (P > 0.05). Significant differences were also observed between the two groups in the levels of serum tT, SHBG, LH, and FTI (P < 0.05) , but not in the concentrations of serum Hcy (P > 0.05). The concentration of serum Hcy exhibited no correlation with BMI, SBP, DBP, FBG, TG, and HDL-C (P > 0.05) and had no influence on MS. CONCLUSION: The concentration of serum Hcy is not significantly correlated with MS, nor with its components. The levels of male serum reproductive hormones are associated both with MS and with its components.

[Changes of serum reproductive hormones with aging among healthy males in a community population of Hebei Province].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes of serum reproductive hormones with male aging and to compare the differences in the hormone levels among different age groups or between township and rural males of the same age group. METHODS: Using cluster and stratified sampling, we recruited 434 healthy old and middle-aged (40-69 years) males, 198 from the township and 236 from the rural communities. We determined the concentrations of serum total testosterone (tT), luteinizing hormone (LH) and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), free testosterone (fT), bio-available testosterone (Bio-T), and obtained the testosterone secretion index (TSI) and free testosterone index (fTI). Meanwhile, we included fifty-nine 20-39 years old males from the same communities in a control group. RESULTS: With the increase of age, the serum tT levels did not change significantly, while the levels of serum LH and SHBG increased, and those of fT, Bio-T, TSI and fTI decreased gradually. Statistically significant differences were found among the four different age groups in all the parameters of reproductive hormones (P < 0.01), except in the serum tT level (P > 0.05). The serum tT level was not significantly correlated with aging and LH (P > 0.05). Serum LH and SHBG had a marked positive correlation with aging, and SHBG with LH (P < 0.01), while fT, Bio-T, TSI and fTI were negatively correlated with aging and the LH level (P < 0.01). Serum LH, TSI and fTI showed statistical differences (P < 0.05), while fT and Bio-T exhibited extremely significant differences (P < 0.01) between the township and rural males in the 40 -49 yr group, and in the same age group, the increase rates of serum LH and SHBG and reduction rates of fT, Bio-T, TSI and fTI were higher in the rural men than in the township residents. However, the results were just the opposite in the 50 - 59 and 60 - 69 yr groups. CONCLUSION: The levels of serum LH, SHBG, fT, Bio-T, TSI and fTI changed with aging in a gradientmanner in the old and middle-aged males, but no significant changes were observed in the level of serum tT. There were statistical differences in many parameters of serum reproductive hormones among different age groups or between township and rural males.

The prevalence of erectile dysfunction among subjects with late-onset hypogonadism: a population-based study in China.

INTRODUCTION: The concurrence of chronic diseases and some well-defined risk factors significantly impacts the prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED). AIM: To determine whether late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) impacts the prevalence of ED using investigation reproductive health data of middle-aged and aging males in China. METHODS: The reproductive health status of 1498 males, aged 40-69 years, was evaluated using questionnaires of LOH based on the Androgen Deficiency in Aging Males (ADAM) and Aging Male Symptoms scale (AMS), as well as the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) assessment. The 10th percentile of serum total testosterone (TT) and calculated free testosterone (cFT) levels of controls were set as cut-off levels of AD. The main outcome measures were used to assess the prevalence of LOH and ED according to different subject characteristics. RESULTS: Of the 1472 subjects who completed the questionnaires who supplied hormone measurements, the prevalence of self-reported ED and identified by the IIEF-5 assessment were 11.28% and 77.85%, respectively. The IIEF-5 assessment revealed a prevalence of ED of 55.34%, 88.20%, and 91.77%, respectively, among those aged 40-49, 50-59, and 60-69 years. AD rates of ED subjects were 13.73% and 40.69% according to the TT and cFT cut-off levels. The prevalence of ED among subjects positive for LOH (ADAM+ and AMS+) were 88.81% and 95.80%, respectively. The prevalence of ED among the AD subjects (TT and cFT cut-off levels) with LOH (ADAM+ and AMS+) were 86.67%/81.82%. And the prevalence of ED among clinical LOH subjects (ADAM+ and AMS+) were 89.51%/98.48%. CONCLUSIONS: We found that middle-aged and aging Chinese males were at a relatively high risk of ED. The prevalence of ED among subjects with LOH symptoms was greater than in all recruited subjects. The effect of LOH on the prevalence of ED far outweighed the risk of decreased testosterone levels.