Cited by 392Hormonal and reproductive studiesHypothalamic control of reproductive hormonesSperm and Testicular Function

Age-associated changes in hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular function in middle-aged and older men are modified by weight change and lifestyle factors: longitudinal results from the European male ageing study

Open access
Camacho, E M, Huhtaniemi, I T, O'Neill, T W, Finn, J D, Pye, S R, Lee, D M, Tajar, A, Bartfai, G +13 more·2013·European Journal of Endocrinology

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Health and lifestyle factors are associated with variations in serum testosterone levels in ageing men. However, it remains unclear how age-related changes in testosterone may be attenuated by lifestyle modifications. The objective was to investigate the longitudinal relationships between changes in health and lifestyle factors with changes in hormones of the reproductive endocrine axis in ageing men. DESIGN: A longitudinal survey of 2736 community-dwelling men aged 40-79 years at baseline recruited from eight centres across Europe. Follow-up assessment occurred mean (±S.D.) 4.4±0.3 years later. RESULTS: Paired testosterone results were available for 2395 men. Mean (±S.D.) annualised hormone changes were as follows: testosterone -0.1±0.95 nmol/l; free testosterone (FT) -3.83±16.8 pmol/l; sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) 0.56±2.5 nmol/l and LH 0.08±0.57 U/l. Weight loss was associated with a proportional increase, and weight gain a proportional decrease, in testosterone and SHBG. FT showed a curvilinear relationship to weight change; only those who gained or lost ≥15% of weight showed a significant change (in the same direction as testosterone). Smoking cessation was associated with a greater decline in testosterone than being a non-smoker, which was unrelated to weight change. Changes in number of comorbid conditions or physical activity were not associated with significant alterations in hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular (HPT) axis function. CONCLUSIONS: Body weight and lifestyle factors influence HPT axis function in ageing. Weight loss was associated with a rise, and weight gain a fall, in testosterone, FT and SHBG. Weight management appears to be important in maintaining circulating testosterone in ageing men, and obesity-associated changes in HPT axis hormones are reversible following weight reduction.

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Crossref · 10.1530/eje-12-0890

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  1. 2012, ENDOCRINE ABSTRACTS, 28, 39
  2. 2010, JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES A BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND MEDICAL SCIENCES, 65, 503
  3. Gapstur, 2002, Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention, 11, 1041

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Authors
Camacho, E. M., Huhtaniemi, I. T., O'Neill, T. W., Finn, J. D., Pye, S. R., Lee, D. M., Tajar, A., Bartfai, G., Boonen, S., Casanueva, F. F., Forti, G., Giwercman, A., Han, T. S., Kula, K., Keevil, B., Lean, M. E., Pendleton, N., Punab, M., Vanderschueren, D., Wu, F. C. W., & _, _.
Affiliations
  • University of Manchester (GB)
  • Imperial College London (GB)
  • KU Leuven (BE)
  • Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (ES)
  • University of Florence (IT)
  • Skåne University Hospital (SE)
  • University College London (GB)
  • Medical University of Lodz (PL)
  • University of Glasgow (GB)
  • Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
  • Tartu University Hospital (EE)
Corresponding author
Wu, F C W
Venue
European Journal of Endocrinology
Published
2013-03
Volume
168
Issue
3
Pages
445-455
ISSN
  • 0804-4643 (ISSN-L)
  • 1479-683X
OpenAlex
W2132200219
Cited by
392
References
41
Citations by year
2026: 16 · 2025: 24 · 2024: 34 · 2023: 30 · 2022: 30 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 32 · 2019: 26 · 2018: 27 · 2017: 34 · 2016: 33 · 2015: 31 · 2014: 31 · 2013: 15
FWCI
28.84
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
other-oa
Locations
  • European Journal of Endocrinology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (publishedVersion)
  • LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • ENLIGHTEN (Jurnal Bimbingan dan Konseling Islam) (submittedVersion)
  • Florence Research (University of Florence) (submittedVersion)
  • Lund University Publications (Lund University) (submittedVersion)
  • RUNA. Repositorio Institucional del Sergas (Servicio Gallego de Salud (SERGAS)) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Hormonal and reproductive studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Sperm and Testicular Function
Keywords
hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis, testosterone, free testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin, luteinizing hormone, older men, weight change, weight loss, weight gain, obesity, smoking cessation, comorbidities, physical activity, lifestyle factors, European Male Ageing Study
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Aging, Europe, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System, Luteinizing Hormone, Life Style, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Prospective Studies, Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin, Testis, Testosterone, Cohort Studies, Weight Gain, Weight Loss, Smoking Cessation

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