Biological Day-to-Day Variation and Daytime Changes of Testosterone, Follitropin, Lutropin and Oestradiol-17β in Healthy Men
Abstract
Information on biological day-to-day variation is needed for detecting within-subject changes over time. In this study the daytime changes and the biological day-to-day variation of serum testosterone, follitropin, lutropin and oestradiol-17β concentrations were investigated in 31 healthy males. To analyse daytime changes, blood specimens were taken at 0800 h, 1200 h, 1600 h and 2000 h during one day (n=31) and two days (n=8). The day-to-day variation was analysed from blood specimens collected at 0800 h on days 1 and 2 (n=31) and additionally on days 3, 4, 6 and 9 (n=8). The evaluation of the day-to-day variation was based on calculations of the within-subject (CV A+I ) and between-subject (CV G ) coefficients of variation. When the within-subject day-to-day variances were not too heterogeneous, they were used for the calculation of 95 % reference change limits. Serum testosterone and oestradiol-17βconcentrations showed a significant daytime variation; testosterone had higher serum concentrations at 0800 and 1200 h. A peak in the serum concentration of oestradiol-17β occurred at 1200 h with a decrease towards the evening. There were no clear daytime changes in the serum concentrations of follitropin or lutropin. For different analytes the reference change limits were: serum testosterone ± 32.0 %, serum follitropin ± 24.1 % and serum oestradiol-17β ± 38.3 %. The reference change limit was not calculated for serum lutropin, as a high degree of heterogeneity and individuality was found. The interpretation of the results of hormone measurements requires recognition of the biological daytime and day-to-day changes of hormones. The reference change limits determine what changes are significant when monitoring the patient.
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Because of simplicity, ease of use, and high throughput, immunoassays were widely adopted in clinical practice, and most total testosterone reference ranges were established using them.
“Given their simplicity, ease of use, and high-throughput, immunoassays (IA) were widely adopted in clinical practice, with the majority of TT reference ranges established using these techniques.”
From Challenges in Testosterone Measurement, Data Interpretation, and Methodological Appraisal of Interventional Trials (2016) · cites this paper as [82]
Over the past 10 years, mass spectrometry, particularly liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, has become increasingly adopted because of high throughput, limited sample preparation, and high sensitivity and specificity at low and high testosterone concentrations.
“However, over the past 10 years, MS, and in particular liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), has become increasingly adopted due to its high throughput, limited requirement for sample preparation, and high sensitivity/specificity at low and high T concentrations.”
From Challenges in Testosterone Measurement, Data Interpretation, and Methodological Appraisal of Interventional Trials (2016) · cites this paper as [82]
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- Authors
- Ahokoski, O., Virtanen, A., Huupponen, R., Scheinin, H., Salminen, E., Kairisto, V., & Irjala, K.
- Affiliations
- University of Turku (FI)
- Venue
- cclm
- Publisher
- Walter de Gruyter GmbH
- Published
- 1998-07-01
- Volume
- 36
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 485-491
- ISSN
- 1434-6621 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2038171139
- Cited by
- 30
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 0.61
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (CCLM) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Clinical Laboratory Practices and Quality Control
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Hormonal and reproductive studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones
- Keywords
- day-to-day variability, diurnal variation, testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, healthy men, serum hormone levels, within-person variability, interindividual variability
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Analysis of Variance, Circadian Rhythm, Estradiol, Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Humans, Luteinizing Hormone, Male, Testosterone
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