Serum vitamin D levels and hypogonadism in men. (16th July 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lerchbaum, E.; Pilz, S.; Trummer, C.; Rabe, T.; Schenk, M.; Heijboer, A. C.; Obermayer‐Pietsch, B.
• Is Part Of: Andrology. Volume 2:Number 5(2014)
• Page Start: 748
• Page End: 754
• Publication Date: 2014-07-16
• Subjects: Andrology -- Periodicals; 616.65
• DOI: 10.1111/j.2047-2927.2014.00247.x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2047-2919

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="andr247-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <p>There is inconsistent evidence on a possible association of vitamin D and androgen levels in men. We therefore aim to investigate the association of 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) with androgen levels in a cohort of middle‐aged men. This cross‐sectional study included 225 men with a median (interquartile range) age of 35 (30–41) years. We measured 25(OH)D, total testosterone (TT) and SHBG concentrations. Hypogonadism was defined as TT <10.4 nmol/L. We found no significant correlation of 25(OH)D and androgen levels. Furthermore, androgen levels were not significantly different across 25(OH)D quintiles. The overall prevalence of hypogonadism was 21.5% and lowest in men within 25(OH)D quintile 4 (82–102 nmol/L). We found a significantly increased risk of hypogonadism in men within the highest 25(OH)D quintile (>102 nmol/L) compared to men in quintile 4 (reference) in crude (OR 5.10, 1.51–17.24, <italic>p </italic>= 0.009) as well as in multivariate adjusted analysis (OR 9.21, 2.27–37.35, <italic>p</italic> = 0.002). We found a trend towards increased risk of hypogonadism in men within the lowest 25(OH)D quintile (≤43.9 nmol/L). In conclusion, our data suggest that men with very high 25(OH)D levels (>102 nmol/L) might be at an increased risk of hypogonadism. Furthermore, we observed a trend towards increased risk of hypogonadism in men with very low vitamin D levels indicating a U‐shaped association of vitamin D levels and hypogonadism. With respect to risk of male hypogonadism, our results suggest optimal serum 25(OH)D concentrations of 82–102 nmol/L.</p> </abstract>