Susan R Davis1, Robin J Bell1, Penelope J Robinson1, David J Handelsman2, Tom Gilbert3, James Phung3, Reena Desai2, Jessica E Lockery3, Robyn L Woods3, Rory S Wolfe3, Christopher M Reid4, Mark R Nelson3,5, Anne M Murray6,7, John J McNeil3. 1. Women's Health Research Program, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria Australia. 2. ANZAC Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. 3. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 4. School of Public Health, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. 5. Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. 6. Berman Center for Outcomes and Clinical Research, Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute, Hennepin Healthcare, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 7. Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Abstract
CONTEXT: There is a lack of understanding of what is normal in terms of sex steroid levels in older women. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether sex steroid levels vary with age in and establish reference ranges for women >70 years of age. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional, community-based study. PARTICIPANTS: Included 6392 women ≥70 years of age. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sex steroids measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. A reference group, to establish sex steroid age-specific reference ranges, excluded women using systemic or topical sex steroid, antiandrogen or glucocorticoid therapy, or an antiglycemic agent. RESULTS: The reference group of 5326 women had a mean age of 75.1 (±4.2) years, range of 70 to 94.7 years. Median values (range) were 181.2 pmol/L (3.7 to 5768.9) for estrone (E1), 0.38 nmol/L (0.035 to 8.56) for testosterone (T), 2.60 nmol/L (0.07 to 46.85) for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and 41.6 nmol/L (2.4 to 176.6) for SHBG. Estradiol and DHT were below method sensitivity in 66.1% and 72.7% of the samples, respectively. Compared with women aged 70 to 74 years, women aged ≥85 years had higher median levels of E1 (11.7%, P = 0.01), T (11.3%, P = 0.02), and SHBG (22.7%, P < 0.001) and lower DHEA (30% less, P < 0.001). Women with overweight and obesity had higher E1 (P < 0.001) and T (P < 0.03) and lower SHBG (P < 0.001) than did women with normal body mass index. Smokers had 17.2% higher median T levels (P = 0.005). CONCLUSION: From the age of 70 years, T and E1 increase with age, despite a steady decline in DHEA. Whether E1 and T are biomarkers for longevity or contribute to healthy aging merits investigation.
CONTEXT: There is a lack of understanding of what is normal in terms of sex steroid levels in older women. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether sex steroid levels vary with age in and establish reference ranges for women >70 years of age. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional, community-based study. PARTICIPANTS: Included 6392 women ≥70 years of age. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sex steroids measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. A reference group, to establish sex steroid age-specific reference ranges, excluded women using systemic or topical sex steroid, antiandrogen or glucocorticoid therapy, or an antiglycemic agent. RESULTS: The reference group of 5326 women had a mean age of 75.1 (±4.2) years, range of 70 to 94.7 years. Median values (range) were 181.2 pmol/L (3.7 to 5768.9) for estrone (E1), 0.38 nmol/L (0.035 to 8.56) for testosterone (T), 2.60 nmol/L (0.07 to 46.85) for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and 41.6 nmol/L (2.4 to 176.6) for SHBG. Estradiol and DHT were below method sensitivity in 66.1% and 72.7% of the samples, respectively. Compared with women aged 70 to 74 years, women aged ≥85 years had higher median levels of E1 (11.7%, P = 0.01), T (11.3%, P = 0.02), and SHBG (22.7%, P < 0.001) and lower DHEA (30% less, P < 0.001). Women with overweight and obesity had higher E1 (P < 0.001) and T (P < 0.03) and lower SHBG (P < 0.001) than did women with normal body mass index. Smokers had 17.2% higher median T levels (P = 0.005). CONCLUSION: From the age of 70 years, T and E1 increase with age, despite a steady decline in DHEA. Whether E1 and T are biomarkers for longevity or contribute to healthy aging merits investigation.
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