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Cited by 237Hormonal and reproductive studiesAdipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic DiseasesSperm and Testicular Function

Contribution of Body Fatness and Adipose Tissue Distribution to the Age Variation in Plasma Steroid Hormone Concentrations in Men: The HERITAGE Family Study

Couillard, C.·2000·Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
DOI 10.1210/jc.85.3.1026
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Abstract

Obesity has been associated with alterations in plasma steroid hormone concentrations in men. Older men present an altered steroid hormone profile compared to younger individuals, and an increase in body fatness and changes in adipose tissue (AT) distribution are noted with advancing age. Thus, there is a need to examine the relative importance of increased body fatness and changes in AT distribution with advancing age to plasma steroid hormone and sex hormone-binding globulin levels in men. We, therefore, investigated the relationships among age, body fatness, AT distribution, and the plasma steroid hormone profile in a group of 217 Caucasian men (mean age +/- SD, 36.2 +/- 14.9 yr) who covered a wide age range (17-64 yr). Compared to young adult men, older men were characterized by increased adiposity (P < 0.0001) expressed either as body mass index or total body fat mass assessed by underwater weighing. Differences in AT distribution were also noted with a preferential accumulation of abdominal fat as indicated by a larger waist girth (P < 0.0001) and higher visceral AT accumulation (P < 0.0001), measured by computed tomography, in older subjects. Age was associated with decreases (P < 0.0001) in C19 adrenal steroid levels, namely reduced dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA fatty acid ester, DHEA sulfate, as well as androstenedione levels. Androgens, i.e. dihydrotestosterone and testosterone, were also affected by age, with lower levels of both steroids being found in older individuals (P < 0.0005). When statistical adjustment for body fatness and AT distribution was performed, differences in C19 adrenal steroids between the age groups remained significant, whereas differences in androgens and sex hormone-binding globulin concentrations were no longer significant. The present study suggests that age-related differences in plasma steroid hormone levels, especially androgens, are partly mediated by concomitant variation in adiposity in men.

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  • Obesity is the single most important factor associated with low testosterone, overriding the effects of age and comorbidities.

    “These studies have confirmed that obesity is the single most important factor associated with low testosterone, overriding the effects of age and comorbidities.28,29”

    From Hypogonadism and male obesity: Focus on unresolved questions (2018) · cites this paper as [28]

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Authors
Couillard, C.
ORCID
Couillard, C.
Venue
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
Publisher
The Endocrine Society
Published
2000-03-01
Volume
85
Issue
3
Pages
1026-1031
ISSN
0021-972X (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1210/jc.85.3.1026
OpenAlex
W1998727889
Cited by
237
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 11
FWCI
6.31
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Medical Research Council Canada
  • Medical Research Council
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (HL 47321, HL 45670, HL47323, R01HL047317, HL 47327, R01HL047323, HL47317, R01HL045670)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Hormonal and reproductive studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Adipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Sperm and Testicular Function
Keywords
age-related changes, plasma steroids, adiposity, body fat distribution, visceral fat, abdominal fat, sex hormone-binding globulin, androgens, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, adrenal steroids, obesity, men, HERITAGE Family Study
MeSH terms
Adipose Tissue, Adult, Aging, Body Composition, Body Height, Body Weight, Humans, Insulin, Male, Middle Aged, Reference Values, Regression Analysis, Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin, Steroids, Tomography, X-Ray Computed, Cohort Studies

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