Testosterone and pre-androgens by age and menopausal stage at midlife: findings from a cross-sectional study.

IF 10.8 1区医学 Q1 MEDICINE, RESEARCH & EXPERIMENTAL

EBioMedicine Pub Date : 2025-10-16 DOI:10.1016/j.ebiom.2025.105972

Yuanyuan Wang, Rakibul M Islam, Molly Bond, Susan R Davis

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Whether testosterone and the pre-androgens, androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) change at menopause remains uncertain.

Methods: The Australian Women's Midlife Years Study recruited a nationally representative sample of 8096 women aged 40-69 years, between 27th October 2023 and 19th March 2024. Participants were excluded from providing a blood sample if pregnant, breastfeeding, using medications that affect sex hormone concentrations, or living over 100 km from a collection centre. Sex steroids were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and menopausal status was determined by the Stages of Reproductive Ageing Workshop (STRAW) + 10 criteria.

Findings: Blood samples were provided by 1435 of the 5031 invited participants. After excluding participants with no menopause stage classification, abnormal thyroid function, hyperprolactinemia, bilateral oophorectomy, and an unreported pregnancy, 1104 participants, mean (SD) age 56.5 (8.5) years, were included in the main analysis. Median testosterone concentrations declined between the ages of 40-44 and 55-59 years (median (interdecile range) 0.56 (0.29-1.01) nmol/L vs 0.42 (0.21-0.79) nmol/L, p = 0.001 adjusted for BMI and smoking), reached a nadir at the age of 58-59 years, followed by a modest increase, and did not differ between the youngest group and participants aged 60-64 or 65-69 years. Median androstenedione and DHEA concentrations declined from the age of 40-44 years to 65-69 years, by 51% and 33%, respectively. Testosterone and DHEA concentrations did not vary by menopausal stage in participants aged 48-53 years, whereas androstenedione concentrations were significantly higher in premenopausal, compared with postmenopausal individuals (median (IQR) 1.94 (1.42-2.54) nmol/L vs 1.63 (1.01-2.02) nmol/L, p = 0.001).

Interpretation: Testosterone concentrations declined from the age of 40 years, reaching a nadir at approximately 58-59 years followed by a modest increase, with no impact of natural menopause. These data do not support menopause per se as an indication for testosterone supplementation.

Funding: This research was supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Leadership 3 Investigator Grant award SRD (2016627).

查看原文本刊更多论文

睾酮和前雄激素随年龄和中年绝经期的变化：一项横断面研究的结果。

背景：睾酮和前雄激素、雄烯二酮和脱氢表雄酮（DHEA）在更年期是否发生变化仍不确定。方法：澳大利亚女性中年研究在2023年10月27日至2024年3月19日期间招募了8096名40-69岁女性的全国代表性样本。如果参与者怀孕、哺乳、使用影响性激素浓度的药物，或居住在距离采集中心100公里以上的地方，则不允许提供血液样本。采用液相色谱-串联质谱法测定性类固醇，采用生殖衰老阶段研讨会(STRAW) + 10标准确定绝经状态。研究结果：5031名受邀参与者中有1435人提供了血液样本。在排除无绝经分期、甲状腺功能异常、高泌乳素血症、双侧卵巢切除术和未报告妊娠的参与者后，主要分析纳入了1104名参与者，平均（SD）年龄56.5（8.5）岁。睾酮浓度中位数在40-44岁和55-59岁之间下降(中位数（十分位数范围）0.56 (0.29-1.01)nmol/L vs 0.42 (0.21-0.79) nmol/L，调整BMI和吸烟后p = 0.001)，在58-59岁时达到最低点，随后适度增加，并且在最年轻组和60-64岁或65-69岁的参与者之间没有差异。雄烯二酮和脱氢表雄酮浓度中位数从40-44岁下降到65-69岁，分别下降51%和33%。在48-53岁的参与者中，睾酮和脱氢表雄酮浓度没有因绝经阶段而变化，而绝经前的雄烯二酮浓度明显高于绝经后个体(中位（IQR） 1.94 （1.42-2.54) nmol/L vs 1.63 (1.01-2.02) nmol/L, p = 0.001）。解释：睾酮浓度从40岁开始下降，在大约58-59岁时达到最低点，随后适度增加，没有自然绝经的影响。这些数据不支持更年期本身作为补充睾酮的指征。本研究由国家卫生与医学研究委员会（NHMRC）领导3研究者资助奖SRD（2016627）支持。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

EBioMedicine Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology-General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology

CiteScore

17.70

自引率

0.90%

发文量

579

审稿时长

5 weeks

期刊介绍： eBioMedicine is a comprehensive biomedical research journal that covers a wide range of studies that are relevant to human health. Our focus is on original research that explores the fundamental factors influencing human health and disease, including the discovery of new therapeutic targets and treatments, the identification of biomarkers and diagnostic tools, and the investigation and modification of disease pathways and mechanisms. We welcome studies from any biomedical discipline that contribute to our understanding of disease and aim to improve human health.