The Association between Serum Testosterone and Risk Factors for Atherosclerosis

Abstract

Objective: To study the associations between serum testosterone and risk factors for atherosclerosis in 119 men from general population. Methods: Systolic pressure, body mass index (BMI), testosterone, fasting glucose, glucose tolerance test, apolipoprotein A-1 (ApoA-1), apolipoprotein B (ApoB), and ApoB/ApoA-1 ratio were assessed. Subjects classified into hypogonadal (testosterone ≤ 12 nmol/l), and eugonadal men (testosterone > 12 nmol/l). Results: BMI (28 vs. 26 kg/m2, p = 0.01), systolic pressure (129 vs. 123 mmHg, p = 0.03), fasting glucose (5.9 vs. 5.5 mmol/l, p = 0.03), ApoB (1.1 vs. 1.0 g/l, p = 0.03), and ApoB/ApoA-1 ratio (0.8 vs. 0.7, p = 0.03) were higher in hypogonadal compared to eugonadal men, respectively. In adjusted multivariate regression analysis model, testosterone showed negative associations with BMI (β =-1.832, p = 0.030, 95% CI =-3.485-0.180), fasting glucose (β =-0.394, p = 0.011, 95% CI =-0.696-0.091), glucose tolerance test (β =-0.957, p = 0.045, 95% CI =-1.892-0.022), ApoB (β =-0.157, p = 0.017, 95% CI =-0.286-0.029), and ApoB/ApoA-1 ratio (β =-0.118, p = 0.046, 95% CI =-0.234-0.002). Conclusions: These results suggest an inverse association between testosterone levels and risk factors for atherosclerosis.