title: Serum sex steroids measured in middle-aged European and African-Caribbean men by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Differences in circulating steroid hormone levels have been hypothesized to explain ethnic differences in steroid-related diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the serum levels of a wide panel of steroid hormones, both androgens and estrogens, in healthy middle-aged African-Caribbean and European men.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum steroid hormone levels were determined in men participating in a systematic public health study funded by the French National Health Insurance system. Blood was collected in the morning from 304 healthy African-Caribbean and European men aged between 40 and 69 years. Serum steroids were measured by mass spectrometry-gas chromatography, except for DHEAS and sex hormone-binding globulin, which were determined by RIA. Data were analyzed in 10-year age intervals by analysis of covariance, with adjustment for age, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, tobacco and alcohol consumption, and season of sampling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with Europeans, African-Caribbean men presented significantly higher serum levels of measured bioavailable testosterone, 4-androstenedione (4-dione), and estrone (E1) regardless of the age group, of 5-androstenediol (5-diol) in those aged 40-49 and 50-59 years, and of testosterone (TT) and dihydrotestosterone in those aged 40-49 years. In contrast, European men aged 40-69 years showed significantly higher serum levels of DHEA and DHEAS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significant differences in serum steroid hormone levels were observed in middle-aged African-Caribbean and European men. Whether such differences could contribute to ethnic differences in disease risk in adult men remains to be investigated. Some steroids, such as bioavailable TT, 4-dione, 5-diol, and E1, deserve particular attention.
authors.affiliation: AP-HP CIB GHU Sud, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Creteil, France.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giton
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fiet
authors.forename: Jean-Nicolas
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Cornu
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cussenot
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bélanger
authors.forename: Saîk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Urien
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oliva
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Blanchet
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Multigner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D044383:Black People / Q000208:ethnology*; D017691:Caribbean Region / Q000208:ethnology; D004970:Estrone / Q000097:blood; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D044465:White People / Q000208:ethnology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D004970:Estrone; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione