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Reduced pulmonary function is associated with lower levels of endogenous total and free testosterone. The Tromsø Study

  • Pulmonary Diseases
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Abstract

Men with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have reduced endogenous testosterone levels. Little is known, however, about the relationship between pulmonary function and endogenous testosterone levels in a general population. In the present study we have examined the cross-sectional associations between sex hormones measured by immunoassay and pulmonary function assessed with spirometry and oxygen saturation in 2,197 men participating in the fifth Tromsø study. The data were analyzed by univariate correlations, multiple linear regression analyses and analyses of variance and covariance. Total and free testosterone were positively and independently associated with forced vitality capacity, FVC (% of predicted) (P = 0.001 and P = 0.006, respectively) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second, FEV1 (% predicted) (P = 0.033 and P = 0.002, respectively), and men with severe pulmonary obstruction (FEV1 % of predicted < 50) had lower free testosterone levels (P = 0.005). In this cross-sectional data from Tromsø, a reduction in pulmonary function was associated with lower levels of total and free testosterone. We suggest that the reduction of total and free testosterone could be due␣to an alteration of the hypothalamic-pituitary response.

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Abbreviations

BMI:

body mass index

COPD:

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

DHEAS:

dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate

FEV1 :

forced expiratory volume in 1 sec

FSH:

follicle stimulating hormone

FVC:

forced vital capacity

LH:

luteinizing hormone

SHBG:

sex hormone-binding globulin

WC:

waist circumference

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by local funds from the University Hospital of North Norway.

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Correspondence to Johan Svartberg.

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Svartberg, J., Schirmer, H., Medbø, A. et al. Reduced pulmonary function is associated with lower levels of endogenous total and free testosterone. The Tromsø Study. Eur J Epidemiol 22, 107–112 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-006-9095-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-006-9095-9

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