Prospective inverse associations of sex hormone concentrations in men with biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress.
The suggested associations between sex hormone concentrations and  inflammatory biomarkers in men originate from cross-sectional studies and  small-scale clinical trials. But prior studies have not investigated  longitudinal associations. Overall, 1344 men aged 20-79 years from the  population-based cohort Study of Health in Pomerania were followed up for 5.0  (median) years. We used multivariable regression models to analyze  cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of serum sex hormone  concentrations (total testosterone [TT], sex hormone-binding globulin  [SHBG], calculated free testosterone [free T], and dehydroepiandrosterone  sulfate [DHEAS]) with biomarkers of inflammation (fibrinogen, high-sensitive  C-reactive protein [hsCRP], and white blood cell count [WBC]) and oxidative  stress (γ-glutamyl transferase [GGT]) using ordinary least square  regression and generalized estimating equation models, respectively.  Cross-sectional models revealed borderline associations of sex hormone  concentrations with hsCRP, WBC, and GGT levels that were not retained after  multivariable adjustment. Longitudinal multivariable analyses revealed an  inverse association of baseline TT, free T, and DHEAS concentrations with  change in fibrinogen levels (per SD decrement in TT, 0.25 [95% confidence  interval, 0.04-0.45]; in free T, 0.30 [0.09-0.51]; and in DHEAS,  0.23 [0.11-0.36]). Furthermore, baseline DHEAS concentrations were  inversely associated with change in WBC levels (per SD decrement, 0.53  [0.24-0.82]). Baseline TT, SHBG, free T, and DHEAS concentrations were  also inversely associated with change in GGT after multivariable adjustment.  The present study is the first to demonstrate prospective inverse associations  between sex hormone concentrations and markers of inflammation and oxidative  stress in men. Additional studies are warranted to elucidate potential  mechanisms underlying the revealed associations.
Institute of Clinical Chemistry, and Laboratory Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Ferdinand-Sauerbruch Str, Greifswald, Germany. robin.haring@uni-greifswald.de
Robin
R
Haring
Sebastian E
SE
Baumeister
Henry
H
Völzke
Marcus
M
Dörr
Thomas
T
Kocher
Matthias
M
Nauck
Henri
H
Wallaschofski
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis; D005858:Germany; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
D015415:Biomarkers; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase