title: Influence of vitamin D levels on the cardiovascular profile of hypogonadal men.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A large body of evidence suggests a role for vitamin D in conditioning cardiovascular risk. Therefore, it can be hypothesized that vitamin D might also play a role in influencing the metabolic profile of hypogonadal men. In this work, we aimed at evaluating if any relationship exists between vitamin D levels and cardiovascular parameters in male hypogonadism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hypogonadal patients attending our andrology unit were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical and biochemical parameters were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  103 patients were studied (51 non-diabetic and 52 diabetic subjects). Mean age of the whole sample was 65 years (standard error of the mean: 0.62). Significant correlations of age, total testosterone, parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcemia, and 25-OH vitamin D with the metabolic profile were found. In logistic regression models including age, total testosterone, PTH, calcemia and 25-OH vitamin D as independent variables, lower levels of 25-OH vitamin D were associated with high values of body mass index (BMI) [odds ratio (OR) 0.910, p 0.019], insulin (OR 0.918, p 0.034), homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) index (OR 0.918, p 0.030), total cholesterol (OR 0.819, p < 0.001), triglycerides (OR 0.820, p < 0.001), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR 0.923, p 0.034). In non-diabetic subjects, lower levels of 25-OH vitamin D were associated with high values of BMI, insulin, HOMA, triglycerides, systolic, and diastolic blood pressure. On the other hand, in diabetic subjects, lower levels of 25-OH vitamin D were associated with high values of total cholesterol and triglycerides.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our work shows the influence of vitamin D on cardiovascular profile in male hypogonadism. This effect seems to be more relevant in non-diabetic subjects. If these data were to be confirmed, vitamin D assessment might become mandatory in the clinical evaluation of cardiovascular profile in male hypogonadism.
authors.affiliation: Andrology Unit, Division of Endocrinology, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Umberto I Hospital, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Conca 71, 60126, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tirabassi
authors.affiliation: Andrology Unit, Division of Endocrinology, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Umberto I Hospital, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Conca 71, 60126, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cutini
authors.affiliation: Andrology Unit, Division of Endocrinology, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Umberto I Hospital, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Conca 71, 60126, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Salvio
authors.affiliation: Istology, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cerqueni
authors.affiliation: Andrology, Pathophysiology of Reproduction and Endocrine Diagnosis Unit, Policlinic Umberto I, University of Rome ''La Sapienza'', Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lenzi
authors.affiliation: Andrology Unit, Division of Endocrinology, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Umberto I Hospital, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Conca 71, 60126, Ancona, Italy. g.balercia@univpm.it.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Balercia
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D014280:Triglycerides; D014807:Vitamin D; D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: Cardiovascular risk; Male hypogonadism; Testosterone; Vitamin D