Serum Total Testosterone Concentrations in the US Household Population from the NHANES 2011-2012 Study Population.
BACKGROUND
Limited information is available about testosterone concentrations representative of the general US population, especially children, women, and non-Hispanic Asians.


METHODS
We obtained nationally representative data for total testosterone (totalT), measured with standardized LC-MS/MS, for the US population age 6 years and older from the 2011-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). We analyzed 6746 serum samples and calculated the geometric means, distribution percentiles, and covariate-adjusted geometric means by age, sex, and race/ethnicity.


RESULTS
The 10th-90th percentiles of totalT values in adults (≥20 years) was 150-698 ng/dL (5.20-24.2 nmol/L) in men, 7.1-49.8 ng/dL (0.25-1.73 nmol/L) in women, and 1.0-9.5 ng/dL (0.04-0.33 nmol/L) in children (6-10 years old). Differences among race/ethnic groups existed in children and men: covariate-adjusted totalT values in non-Hispanic Asians were highest among children (58% compared to non-Hispanic black children) and lowest among men (12% compared to Mexican-American men). Covariate-adjusted totalT values in men were higher at age 55-60 years compared to ages 35 and 80 years, a pattern different from that observed in previous NHANES cycles.


CONCLUSIONS
TotalT patterns were different among age groups in men compared with previous NHANES cycles. Covariate-adjusted totalT values peaked at age 55-60 years in men, which appeared to be consistent with the increased use of exogenous testosterone. Differences among race/ethnic groups existed and appeared more pronounced in children than adults.
Division of Laboratory Sciences, CDC, Atlanta, GA. hvesper@cdc.gov.
Hubert W
HW
Vesper
Division of Laboratory Sciences, CDC, Atlanta, GA.
Yuesong
Y
Wang
Division of Laboratory Sciences, CDC, Atlanta, GA.
Meghan
M
Vidal
Division of Laboratory Sciences, CDC, Atlanta, GA.
Julianne Cook
JC
Botelho
Division of Laboratory Sciences, CDC, Atlanta, GA.
Samuel P
SP
Caudill
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People; D044383:Black People; D002648:Child; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D014481:United States; D044465:White People; D001741:Black or African American
D013739:Testosterone