Serum testosterone associates with lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in black and white males, 10 to 15 years of age, through lowered apolipoprotein AI and AII concentrations.

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations decrease during adolescence in males in association with increasing pubertal maturation and free testosterone (F-T). To determine whether F-T effects lower HDL-C levels by decreasing the amount of cholesterol associated with the major protein moeities associated with HDL-C (apolipoprotein [apo]AI and AII) or by decreasing the concentrations of these proteins, we studied 251 black and 285 white boys, ages 10 to 15 years. In cross-sectional analysis, advancing puberty associated with decreasing HDL-C, apoAI, and apoAII in boys of each ethnic group. The decreases were greater in white (1.49 to 1.24 mmol/L) than black boys (1.68 to 1.53 mmol/L). Backward stepwise regression analyses indicated that F-T was a significant negative predictor of all 3 lipid parameters--HDL-C, apoAI, and apoAII. Ethnic group was associated with HDL-C (blacks higher) and apoAII (whites higher), but not apoAI. The ratio of HDL-C to apo (AI+AII) varied significantly (and negatively) with body mass index (BMI; kg/m(2)), but not with pubertal stage or F-T. Thus, increased F-T appears to explain decreased HDL-C via decreased apoAI and apoAII, not decreases in the amount of cholesterol associated with these proteins. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.