Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 1/2020

Open Access 01-12-2020 | Testosterone | Short communication

Secular trends in testosterone- findings from a large state-mandate care provider

Authors: Gabriel Chodick, Shdema Epstein, Varda Shalev

Published in: Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology | Issue 1/2020

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Several studies from the US and Europe have shown a population-level decline in serum testosterone in men from 1970’s to early 2000’s. However, to the best of our knowledge, no study examining population-level decline in testosterone has been published in more recent years. The study objective was therefore to examine secular trends in testosterone levels among Israeli men in the first and second decades of the twenty-first century,

Methods

All incident total testosterone performed between1/2006 and 3/2019 among 102,334 male members of a large health organization.

Results

A significant (p < 0.001) and prominent trend of age-independent decline in the testosterone levels was recorded during the study period for most age groups.

Conclusions

There was a highly significant age-independent decline in total testosterone in the first and second decades of the twenty-first century. The decline was unlikely to be explained by increasing rates of obesity.
Literature
1.
go back to reference Finkelstein JS, Lee H, Burnett-Bowie SA, Pallais JC, Yu EW, Borges LF, Jones BF, Barry CV, Wulczyn KE, Thomas BJ, Leder BZ. Gonadal steroids and body composition, strength, and sexual function in men. N Engl J Med. 2013;369:1011–22.CrossRef Finkelstein JS, Lee H, Burnett-Bowie SA, Pallais JC, Yu EW, Borges LF, Jones BF, Barry CV, Wulczyn KE, Thomas BJ, Leder BZ. Gonadal steroids and body composition, strength, and sexual function in men. N Engl J Med. 2013;369:1011–22.CrossRef
2.
go back to reference Finkelstein JS, Lee H, Leder BZ, Burnett-Bowie SA, Goldstein DW, Hahn CW, Hirsch SC, Linker A, Perros N, Servais AB, Taylor AP, Webb ML, Youngner JM, Yu EW. Gonadal steroid-dependent effects on bone turnover and bone mineral density in men. J Clin Invest. 2016;126:1114–25.CrossRef Finkelstein JS, Lee H, Leder BZ, Burnett-Bowie SA, Goldstein DW, Hahn CW, Hirsch SC, Linker A, Perros N, Servais AB, Taylor AP, Webb ML, Youngner JM, Yu EW. Gonadal steroid-dependent effects on bone turnover and bone mineral density in men. J Clin Invest. 2016;126:1114–25.CrossRef
3.
go back to reference Blazer D, Liverman C. Testosterone and aging: clinical research directions. In: Blazer DG, Liverman CT, editors. Testosterone and aging: clinical research directions; Mar 12. Washington (DC): National Academies Press; 2004. Blazer D, Liverman C. Testosterone and aging: clinical research directions. In: Blazer DG, Liverman CT, editors. Testosterone and aging: clinical research directions; Mar 12. Washington (DC): National Academies Press; 2004.
4.
go back to reference Nyante SJ, Graubard BI, Li Y, McQuillan GM, Platz EA, Rohrmann S, Bradwin G, McGlynn KA. Trends in sex hormone concentrations in US males: 1988-1991 to 1999-2004. Int J Androl. 2012;35:456–66.CrossRef Nyante SJ, Graubard BI, Li Y, McQuillan GM, Platz EA, Rohrmann S, Bradwin G, McGlynn KA. Trends in sex hormone concentrations in US males: 1988-1991 to 1999-2004. Int J Androl. 2012;35:456–66.CrossRef
5.
go back to reference Travison TG, Araujo AB, Kupelian V, O'Donnell AB, McKinlay JB. The relative contributions of aging, health, and lifestyle factors to serum testosterone decline in men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007;92:549–55.CrossRef Travison TG, Araujo AB, Kupelian V, O'Donnell AB, McKinlay JB. The relative contributions of aging, health, and lifestyle factors to serum testosterone decline in men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007;92:549–55.CrossRef
6.
go back to reference Andersson AM, Jensen TK, Juul A, Petersen JH, Jorgensen T, Skakkebaek NE. Secular decline in male testosterone and sex hormone binding globulin serum levels in Danish population surveys. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007;92:4696–705.CrossRef Andersson AM, Jensen TK, Juul A, Petersen JH, Jorgensen T, Skakkebaek NE. Secular decline in male testosterone and sex hormone binding globulin serum levels in Danish population surveys. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007;92:4696–705.CrossRef
7.
go back to reference Perheentupa A, Makinen J, Laatikainen T, Vierula M, Skakkebaek NE, Andersson AM, Toppari J. A cohort effect on serum testosterone levels in Finnish men. Eur J Endocrinol. 2013;168:227–33.CrossRef Perheentupa A, Makinen J, Laatikainen T, Vierula M, Skakkebaek NE, Andersson AM, Toppari J. A cohort effect on serum testosterone levels in Finnish men. Eur J Endocrinol. 2013;168:227–33.CrossRef
8.
go back to reference Camacho EM, Huhtaniemi IT, O'Neill TW, Finn JD, Pye SR, Lee DM, Tajar A, Bartfai G, Boonen S, Casanueva FF, Forti G, Giwercman A, Han TS, Kula K, Keevil B, Lean ME, Pendleton N, Punab M, Vanderschueren D, Wu FC. 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. Eur J Endocrinol. 2013;168:445–55.CrossRef Camacho EM, Huhtaniemi IT, O'Neill TW, Finn JD, Pye SR, Lee DM, Tajar A, Bartfai G, Boonen S, Casanueva FF, Forti G, Giwercman A, Han TS, Kula K, Keevil B, Lean ME, Pendleton N, Punab M, Vanderschueren D, Wu FC. 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. Eur J Endocrinol. 2013;168:445–55.CrossRef
10.
11.
go back to reference Livingston M, Kalansooriya A, Hartland A, Ramachandran S, Heald A. Serum testosterone levels in male hypogonadism: why and when to check-a review. Int J Clin Pract. 2017;71:e12995.CrossRef Livingston M, Kalansooriya A, Hartland A, Ramachandran S, Heald A. Serum testosterone levels in male hypogonadism: why and when to check-a review. Int J Clin Pract. 2017;71:e12995.CrossRef
12.
go back to reference Ginde A, Liu M, Camargo CA. Trends of vitamin D insufficiency in the US population, 1988-2004. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169:626–32.CrossRef Ginde A, Liu M, Camargo CA. Trends of vitamin D insufficiency in the US population, 1988-2004. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169:626–32.CrossRef
13.
go back to reference A Longo P, Kavran JM, Kim MS, Leahy DJ 2013 Generating mammalian stable cell lines by electroporation. Methods Enzymol 529:209–226. A Longo P, Kavran JM, Kim MS, Leahy DJ 2013 Generating mammalian stable cell lines by electroporation. Methods Enzymol 529:209–226.
14.
go back to reference Handelsman D, Sikaris K, Ly L. Estimating age-specific trends in circulating testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin in males and females across the lifespan. Ann Clin Biochem. 2016;53:377–84.CrossRef Handelsman D, Sikaris K, Ly L. Estimating age-specific trends in circulating testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin in males and females across the lifespan. Ann Clin Biochem. 2016;53:377–84.CrossRef
Metadata
Title
Secular trends in testosterone- findings from a large state-mandate care provider
Authors
Gabriel Chodick
Shdema Epstein
Varda Shalev
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
BioMed Central
Keyword
Testosterone
Published in
Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1477-7827
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-020-00575-2

Other articles of this Issue 1/2020

Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 1/2020 Go to the issue