The Association between Inflammation, Testosterone and SHBG in men: A cross-sectional Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

CONTEXT: Earlier studies have investigated the role of obesity-related inflammation and endogenous sex hormones in men. The role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) with testosterone and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels in men is still debated. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the independent association between levels of high sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) and IL-6 with endogenous sex hormones in men. DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study using data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: A community-based sample of 3212 men aged 45-84 years was included. After exclusions, 3041 men remained for the analyses. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Serum concentrations of testosterone, SHBG, hsCRP, IL-6, and sTNFR were measured from the baseline exam. Multivariable linear regressions were used to examine the association of inflammatory markers with sex hormones. RESULTS: An inverse association was found between levels of hsCRP and levels of testosterone and SHBG, even after adjustment for confounders and IL-6 (Total Testosterone; B = -0.14, Bioavailable Testosterone; B = -0.06, and SHBG; B = -0.66). Similar results were found for IL-6, although a positive association was found for SHBG (B = 0.95). Notably, an inverse association was found for IL-6 with bioavailable testosterone in African Americans and Hispanic Americans aged 45-54 years. No associations were found for sTNFR and endogenous sex hormones. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that inflammatory markers have independent associations with levels of testosterone (total and bioavailable) and furthermore, appear to associate differently with SHBG levels.

Sex Hormones and Abdominal Muscle Area and Radiodensity in Men: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Information on the associations of testosterone levels with abdominal muscle volume and quality in men is limited, while the role of estradiol and SHBG on these muscle characteristics are unclear. To investigate the association between fasting serum sex hormones and CT-derived abdominal muscle area and radiodensity in adult men. Cross sectional observational study using data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. A community-based sample of 907 men aged 45-84 years; 878 men with complete data were included in the analysis. CT scans of the abdomen were interrogated for muscle characteristics. Multivariable linear regressions were used to test the associations. After adjustment, higher levels of both total testosterone and estradiol were associated with higher abdominal muscle area (1.79, 0.1-3.4, & 1.79, 0.4-3.2, respectively). In the final analyses, levels of total testosterone showed a positive association, while an inverse relationship was observed for SHBG with abdominal muscle radiodensity (0.3, 0.0-0.6, & -0.34, -0.6 - -0.1, respectively). Our results indicate a complex association between sex hormones and abdominal muscle characteristics in men. Specifically, total testosterone and estradiol were associated with abdominal muscle area, while only total testosterone was associated with muscle radiodensity and SHBG was inversely associated with muscle radiodensity.

Levels of Sex Hormones and Abdominal Muscle Composition in Men from The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Information on the associations of testosterone levels with abdominal muscle volume and density in men is limited, while the role of estradiol and SHBG on these muscle characteristics are unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between fasting serum sex hormones and CT-derived abdominal muscle area and radiodensity in adult men. Conducted as a cross sectional observational study using data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis, our analyses focused on a community-based sample of 907 men aged 45-84 years, with 878 men having complete data. CT scans of the abdomen were interrogated for muscle characteristics, and multivariable linear regressions were used to test the associations. After adjustment for relevant factors, higher levels of both total testosterone and estradiol were associated with higher abdominal muscle area (1.74, 0.1-3.4, and 1.84, 0.4-3.3, respectively). In the final analyses, levels of total testosterone showed a positive association, while an inverse relationship was observed for SHBG with abdominal muscle radiodensity (0.3, 0.0-0.6, and - 0.33, - 0.6 to - 0.1, respectively). Our results indicate a complex association between sex hormones and abdominal muscle characteristics in men. Specifically, total testosterone and estradiol were associated with abdominal muscle area, while only total testosterone was associated with muscle radiodensity and SHBG was inversely associated with muscle radiodensity.Clinical Trial: NCT00005487.

High C-reactive protein is associated with increased risk of biochemical hypogonadism: a population-based cohort study.

Context: Obesity seems to decrease levels of testosterone. It is still unknown what role inflammation plays in the secretion of testosterone in men. Objective: The objective is to study the association between levels of C-reactive protein and testosterone and its role in predicting biochemical hypogonadism in men. Design: This was a longitudinal observational study between 2002 and 2014 in Sweden. Patients or other participants: At the first visit, a random population sample of 1400 men was included, and 645 men fulfilled a similar protocol at a 10-year follow-up visit. After exclusion, 625 men remained to be included in the final analyses. Main outcome measure(s): Serum concentrations of testosterone and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured at both visits. Bioavailable testosterone was calculated. Biochemical hypogonadism was defined as total testosterone levels <8 nmol/L. Results: At the first visit and in the longitudinal analyses, a strong association was found between high levels of CRP and low levels of calculated bioavailable testosterone even after adjustments for age, waist-hip ratio, hypertension, smoking, type 2 diabetes, and leisuretime physical activity (B = -0.31, 95% CI -0.49 to -0.13, P = 0.001, B = -0.26, 95% CI -0.41 to -0.11, P = 0.001). Similarly, increase with one s. d. in CRP was associated with increased risk of having hypogonadism after adjustment in the final model (odds ratio (OR) 1.76, 95% CI 1.12-2.78, P = 0.015, OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.16-2.78, P =0.008). Conclusions: In this representative cohort of men in southwestern Sweden, high levels of CRP were longitudinally associated with low concentrations of calculated bioavailable testosterone and increased risk of biochemical hypogonadism.