Michael J Kozloski1, L Philip Schumm2, Martha K McClintock3. 1. Department of Sociology, Center on Demography and Economics of Aging, Institute for Mind and Biology, kozloski@uchicago.edu. 2. Department of Health Studies. 3. Center on Demography and Economics of Aging, Institute for Mind and Biology, Department of Comparative Human Development, and Department of Psychology, University of Chicago, Illinois.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Sex hormones affect physical, mental, and social health, yet their role in mediating social effects on aging is understudied. To facilitate such analyses with the National Social Life, Health & Aging Project Wave 2, we summarize the conceptual background, collection protocols, laboratory assays, and data analysis strategies for biologically active (free) levels of testosterone, estradiol, progesterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). METHOD: Saliva from passive drool was collected from returning Wave 1 respondents and non-respondents as well as their partners during an in-home interview. Specimens were frozen and sent to Dresden LabService GmbH for duplicate assays of biologically active steroids using identical assay kits from National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP) Wave 1 (SaliCap, Catalog No. RE69995). Overall, 2,772 testosterone, 2,504 estradiol, 2,714 progesterone, and 2,800 DHEA measurements are publically available for Wave 2 analyses. Through a series of weighted linear regressions, all 4 steroids are compared by gender and age and to Wave 1 measurements. RESULTS: Men had higher levels of both free testosterone and progesterone than women; women and men had the same levels of estradiol and DHEA. Both free testosterone and DHEA decreased with age. We also found significant wave effects for all 4 sex hormones. CONCLUSION: NSHAP Waves 1 and 2 are the first U.S. probability sample studies to measure these 4 salivary sex hormones simultaneously, providing individual profiles 5 years apart. Wave 2 data demonstrate differences by gender and trends by age that are similar to those found in other saliva-based and serum-based studies of free steroid levels. The differences between waves arising from the change in assay laboratory need to be adjusted in future longitudinal analyses using NSHAP Wave 1 and Wave 2 steroid data.
OBJECTIVES: Sex hormones affect physical, mental, and social health, yet their role in mediating social effects on aging is understudied. To facilitate such analyses with the National Social Life, Health & Aging Project Wave 2, we summarize the conceptual background, collection protocols, laboratory assays, and data analysis strategies for biologically active (free) levels of testosterone, estradiol, progesterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). METHOD: Saliva from passive drool was collected from returning Wave 1 respondents and non-respondents as well as their partners during an in-home interview. Specimens were frozen and sent to Dresden LabService GmbH for duplicate assays of biologically active steroids using identical assay kits from National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP) Wave 1 (SaliCap, Catalog No. RE69995). Overall, 2,772 testosterone, 2,504 estradiol, 2,714 progesterone, and 2,800 DHEA measurements are publically available for Wave 2 analyses. Through a series of weighted linear regressions, all 4 steroids are compared by gender and age and to Wave 1 measurements. RESULTS:Men had higher levels of both free testosterone and progesterone than women; women and men had the same levels of estradiol and DHEA. Both free testosterone and DHEA decreased with age. We also found significant wave effects for all 4 sex hormones. CONCLUSION: NSHAP Waves 1 and 2 are the first U.S. probability sample studies to measure these 4 salivary sex hormones simultaneously, providing individual profiles 5 years apart. Wave 2 data demonstrate differences by gender and trends by age that are similar to those found in other saliva-based and serum-based studies of free steroid levels. The differences between waves arising from the change in assay laboratory need to be adjusted in future longitudinal analyses using NSHAP Wave 1 and Wave 2steroid data.
Authors: David J Handelsman; Julie D Newman; Mark Jimenez; Robert McLachlan; Gideon Sartorius; Graham R D Jones Journal: Clin Chem Date: 2013-12-13 Impact factor: 8.327
Authors: Vanessa M Barnabei; Barbara B Cochrane; Aaron K Aragaki; Ingrid Nygaard; R Stan Williams; Peter G McGovern; Ronald L Young; Ellen C Wells; Mary Jo O'Sullivan; Bertha Chen; Robert Schenken; Susan R Johnson Journal: Obstet Gynecol Date: 2005-05 Impact factor: 7.661
Authors: Douglas A Granger; Dante Cicchetti; Fred A Rogosch; Leah C Hibel; Michael Teisl; Elisa Flores Journal: Psychoneuroendocrinology Date: 2007-06-20 Impact factor: 4.905
Authors: William Rosner; Susan E Hankinson; Patrick M Sluss; Hubert W Vesper; Margaret E Wierman Journal: J Clin Endocrinol Metab Date: 2013-03-05 Impact factor: 5.958
Authors: Katie O'Doherty; Angela Jaszczak; Joscelyn N Hoffmann; Hannah M You; David W Kern; Kristina Pagel; Jane McPhillips; L Philip Schumm; William Dale; Elbert S Huang; Martha K McClintock Journal: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci Date: 2014-11 Impact factor: 4.077