Gonadal status and physical performance in older men

Gonadotropins at Advanced Age - Perhaps They Are Not So Bad? Correlations Between Gonadotropins and Sarcopenia Indicators in Older Adults

Many hormones fluctuate during the aging process. It has been suggested that gonadotropins, which increase with age, contribute to the occurrence of many diseases and syndromes in older life, such as cardiovascular diseases, obesity, frailty syndrome and osteoporosis. This study aims to assess the relationship between circulating gonadotropins and other hormones potentially contributing to age-related functional decline and sarcopenia indicators in 39 male and 61 female community-dwelling seniors, mean age 80 years. According to the definition developed by the second European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2), the following indicators of the sarcopenia were assessed: bioimpedance-measured body composition, gait speed, handgrip strength, timed up and go test (TUG), chair stand test, Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Blood levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) and cortisol were also measured. In the men, FSH and partially LH correlated positively with muscle mass percentage, gait speed, handgrip strength and SPPB, and negatively with percent body fat. Additionally, testosterone and DHEAS correlated negatively with the percentage of fat mass in men. Whereas in the women, FSH and LH were mainly negatively associated with body mass and adipose tissue measures. Cortisol did not show any relationship with the examined indicators. The study shows that the indicators of sarcopenia are strongly associated with levels of gonadotropins, sex hormones and DHEAS, especially in older men. The obtained results, after being confirmed in a larger group, may modify prevention and treatment strategies of sarcopenia.

Consequences on aging process and human wellness of generation of nitrogen and oxygen species during strenuous exercise

Impairment of antioxidant defense system and increase in metabolic rate and production of reactive oxygen species have been demonstrated in strenuous exercise. Both at rest and during contractile activity, skeletal muscle generates a very complex set of reactive nitrogen and oxygen species; the main generated are superoxide and nitric oxide. The nature of the contractile activity influences the pattern and the magnitude of this reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS) generation. The intracellular pro-oxidant/antioxidant homeostasis undergoes alteration owing to strenuous exercise and the major identified sources of intracellular free radical generation during physical activity are the mitochondrial electron transport chain, polymorphoneutrophil, and xanthine oxidase. Reactive oxygen species increased tissue susceptibility to oxidative damage and pose a serious threat to the cellular antioxidant defense system. The possible dangerous consequences of the aging process and human wellness are emphasized in this review.

Gender difference and correlation between sexuality, thyroid hormones, cognitive, and physical functions in elderly fit

PURPOSE

Sexuality in the elderly is related to psycho-physical well-being. Aim of this study was to analyze the correlation between sexual health, thyroid hormones, cognitive functions, and physical fitness in elderly population.

METHODS

Fifty-one fit adults were recruited (age: 71.9 ± 5.3 years, 26 females and 25 males). Sexuality was evaluated using the Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire-short form (CSFQ-14) and the Sexual Attitude Scale (SAS). Thyroid function was assessed by measuring serum TSH, FT3, and FT4. Cognitive functions and depressive symptoms were evaluated by the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) test and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) scores. Subjects' physical fitness was evaluated using the following tests: Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), Handgrip test (HG), Timed Up and Go test (TUG), and 2-Minute step test (ST).

RESULTS

CSFQ-14 positively correlated with MMSE (p < 0.05) and negatively with GDS (p < 0.05), while thyroid function was not correlated with sexuality, in both genders. A negative relationship between FT4 vs. weight, FT3 vs. HG and FT3/FT4 ratio vs. ST were found (p = 0.05) in females, while in males, it occurred for TSH vs. TUG (p < 0.05); a positive relationship existed in females between FT4 vs. ST (p < 0.05). Finally, CSFQ-14 was significantly correlated with SPPB (p < 0.05), CST, TUG, and ST (p < 0.01), in both genders.

CONCLUSION

We demonstrated a strict relationship between active sexuality, preserved cognitive function and appropriate physical fitness in elderly subjects, independently from gender. Our preliminary data suggest that in elderly fit population, peripheral thyroxin deiodination may be a useful predictor of better physical performance and more successful aging.

Sport, doping and male fertility

It is universally accepted that lifestyle interventions are the first step towards a good overall, reproductive and sexual health. Cessation of unhealthy habits, such as tobacco, alcohol and drug use, poor nutrition and sedentary behavior, is suggested in order to preserve/improve fertility in humans. However, the possible risks of physical exercise per se or sports on male fertility are less known. Being "fit" does not only improve the sense of well-being, but also has beneficial effects on general health: in fact physical exercise is by all means a low-cost, high-efficacy method for preventing or treating several conditions, ranging from purely physical (diabetes and obesity) to psychological (depression and anxiety), highly influencing male reproduction. If male sexual and reproductive health could be positively affected by a proper physical activity, inadequate bouts of strength - both excessive intensity and duration of exercise training - are more likely to have detrimental effects. In addition, the illicit use of prohibited drugs (i.e. doping) has reached pandemic proportions, and their actions, unfortunately very often underestimated by both amateur and professional athletes, are known to disrupt at different levels and throughout various mechanisms the male hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, resulting in hypogonadism and infertility.

Concurrent training protocol for men with androgen deficiency in the aging male: a randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

The androgen deficiency in the aging male (ADAM) affects physical, sexual, and psychological aspects with characteristics symptoms of middle-aged men. The practice of regular physical activity and physical exercise can attenuate these symptoms. The aim of this randomized clinical trial is to propose a physical exercise protocol based on concurrent training for middle-aged men with ADAM.

METHOD

Randomized clinical trial with a 6-month intervention will randomly divided into two groups: experimental group (EG) and control group (CG). Four evaluations will be carried out, (1) pre-intervention; (2) in the first month of intervention; (3) in the third month of intervention; (4) post-intervention, evaluating: physical, psychological, sexual, and hormonal aspects. The intervention protocol with concurrent training will have duration of 6 months; frequency of 3 times weekly, with 60 min per session. The two-way ANOVA test will be used for the inter-group and intra-group comparisons with repeated measurements, and also Sydak's comparison test.

CONCLUSION

This protocol was developed with the intent of easing the symptoms of ADAM. In addition, it is believed that the concurrent training protocol could be capable to recover hormonal, physical, psychological, and sexual aspect of middle-aged men with ADAM.

Interleukin-18 and testosterone levels in men with metabolic syndrome

OBJECTIVE

Interleukin 18 (IL-18) is an adipokine associated with obesity. Data about the relationship of IL-18 to the metabolic syndrome (MS) are still scarce. Low testosterone (T) levels are common in men with MS, but we did not find data about the levels of IL-18 in men with low T. The aim of this study was to determine the levels of IL-18 in men with MS with or without low T.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 251 men were included in the study. Of them 218 had MS (IDF 2005) and they were divided according to their morning total testosterone (TT) level (cutoff 10.4 nmol/l) into two groups: MS-low T (N = 84) and MS-normal T (N = 134). The control group consisted of 33 men without MS and low T. IL-18 was determined in serum using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A small group of eight men with MS and low T levels received testosterone therapy for three months and physical and laboratory parameters were monitored at the end of that period.

RESULTS

MS men were at mean age (±SD) = 53.77 ± 9.59 years; body mass index (BMI) = 34.0 ± 6.3 kg/m²; and TT = 12.59 ± 5.66 nmol/l. The control group was at age = 52.12 ± 5.2 years (NS); BMI = 25.6 ± 2.4 kg/m² (p < .001); and TT = 17.8 ± 5.68 nmol/l (p < .001), respectively. The levels of IL-18 were higher in the MS group - 345 pg/ml compared to the control one - 264 pg/ml (p < .01). There was no significant difference between MS-low T (330.6 pg/ml) and MS-normal T (350.2 pg/ml) subgroups. The MS-normal T differed more significantly from the control group (p < .001). Significant correlation of testosterone with IL-18 levels was not found. IL-18 correlated with parameters of obesity, lipids, fasting blood sugar (p < .05) and the number of criteria for MS (p < .001). Three months on T treatment showed improvement in obesity parameters and only in one patient IL-18 had clear reduction while the rest showed no change.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, higher IL-18 levels were found in the presence of MS compared to healthy men, but they did not differ between men having MS with or without LOH.

Health-related physical fitness and quality of life in men with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism

Congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism is a rare disorder characterised by impaired testosterone secretion since birth, and represents a valuable model for studying the effects of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in humans. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate all health-related physical fitness (HRPF) components and quality of life in a series of eight men with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism under regular TRT. The study group was compared to a control group of 16 healthy subjects paired for age, body mass index and physical activity. Body composition, aerobic capacity, muscular strength and endurance, and joint flexibility were evaluated in two different 7-day interval time points, based on the pharmacokinetics of testosterone in the hypogonadal group. Quality of life was assessed by the WHOQOL-brief questionnaire. Both groups had similar performances in all HRPF components evaluated, independently of plasma testosterone levels (p > .05). Quality of life was also similar in the four domains analysed (p > .05). The results of this pilot study suggest that regular testosterone replacement was efficient in providing HRPF and quality of life in a series of congenitally hypogonadal men to levels like those observed in healthy men. In addition, acute fluctuations in plasma testosterone did not correlate with changes in muscle strength and endurance.

Testosterone in advance age: a New Zealand longitudinal cohort study: Life and Living in Advanced Age (Te Puāwaitanga o Ngā Tapuwae Kia Ora Tonu)

OBJECTIVES

Serum testosterone (T) levels in men decline with age. Low T levels are associated with sarcopenia and frailty in men aged >80 years. T levels have not previously been directly associated with disability in older men. We explored associations between T levels, frailty and disability in a cohort of octogenarian men.

SETTING

Data from all men from Life and Living in Advanced Age Cohort Study in New Zealand, a longitudinal cohort study in community-dwelling older adults.

PARTICIPANTS

Community-dwelling (>80 years) adult men excluding those receiving T treatment or with prostatic carcinoma.

OUTCOMES MEASURES

Associations between baseline total testosterone (TT) and calculated free testosterone (fT), frailty (Fried scale) and disability (Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living scale (NEADL)) (baseline and 24 months) were examined using multivariate regression and Wald's χ² techniques. Subjects with the lowest quartile of baseline TT and fT values were compared with those in the upper three quartiles.

RESULTS

Participants: 243 men, mean (SD) age 83.7 (2.0) years. Mean (SD) TT=17.6 (6.8) nmol/L and fT=225.3 (85.4) pmol/L. On multivariate analyses, lower TT levels were associated with frailty: β=0.41, p=0.017, coefficient of determination (R²)=0.10 and disability (NEADL) (β=-1.27, p=0.017, R²=0.11), low haemoglobin (β=-7.38, p=0.0016, R²=0.05), high fasting glucose (β=0.38, p=0.038, R²=0.04) and high C reactive protein (CRP) (β=3.57, p=0.01, R²=0.06). Low fT levels were associated with frailty (β=0.39, p=0.024, R²=0.09) but not baseline NEADL (β=-1.29, p=0.09, R²=0.09). Low fT was associated with low haemoglobin (β=-7.83, p=0.0008, R²=0.05) and high CRP (β=2.86, p=0.04, R²=0.05). Relationships between baseline TT and fT, and 24-month outcomes of disability and frailty were not significant.

CONCLUSIONS

In men over 80 years, we confirm an association between T levels and baseline frailty scores. The new finding of association between T levels and disability is potentially relevant to debates on T supplementation in older men, though, as associations were not present at 24 months, further work is needed.

Aging and sex hormones in males

Several large cohort studies have disclosed the trajectories of sex steroids changes overtime in men and their clinical significance. In men the slow, physiological decline of serum testosterone (T) with advancing age overlaps with the clinical condition of overt, pathological hypogonadism. In addition, the increasing number of comorbidities, together with the high prevalence of chronic diseases, all further contribute to the decrease of serum T concentrations in the aging male. For all these reasons both the diagnosis of late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) in men and the decision about starting or not T replacement treatment remain challenging. At present, the biochemical finding of T deficiency alone is not sufficient for diagnosing hypogonadism in older men. Coupling hypogonadal symptoms with documented low serum T represents the best strategy to refine the diagnosis of hypogonadism in older men and to avoid unnecessary treatments.

Predicting low testosterone in aging men: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Physicians diagnose and treat suspected hypogonadism in older men by extrapolating from the defined clinical entity of hypogonadism found in younger men. We conducted a systematic review to estimate the accuracy of clinical symptoms and signs for predicting low testosterone among aging men.

METHODS

We searched the MEDLINE and Embase databases (January 1966 to July 2014) for studies that compared clinical features with a measurement of serum testosterone in men. Three of the authors independently reviewed articles for inclusion, assessed quality and extracted data.

RESULTS

Among 6053 articles identified, 40 met the inclusion criteria. The prevalence of low testosterone ranged between 2% and 77%. Threshold testosterone levels used for reference standards also varied substantially. The summary likelihood ratio associated with decreased libido was 1.6 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3-1.9), and the likelihood ratio for absence of this finding was 0.72 (95% CI 0.58-0.85). The likelihood ratio associated with the presence of erectile dysfunction was 1.5 (95% CI 1.3-1.8) and with absence of erectile dysfunction was 0.83 (95% CI 0.76-0.91). Of the multiple-item instruments, the ANDROTEST showed both the most favourable positive likelihood ratio (range 1.9-2.2) and the most favourable negative likelihood ratio (range 0.37-0.49).

INTERPRETATION

We found weak correlation between signs, symptoms and testosterone levels, uncertainty about what threshold testosterone levels should be considered low for aging men and wide variation in estimated prevalence of the condition. It is therefore difficult to extrapolate the method of diagnosing pathologic hypogonadism in younger men to clinical decisions regarding age-related testosterone decline in aging men.

Multiple hormonal dysregulation as determinant of low physical performance and mobility in older persons

Mobility-disability is a common condition in older individuals. Many factors, including the age-related hormonal dysregulation, may concur to the development of disability in the elderly. In fact, during the aging process it is observed an imbalance between anabolic hormones that decrease (testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS), estradiol, insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and Vitamin D) and catabolic hormones (cortisol, thyroid hormones) that increase. We start this review focusing on the mechanisms by which anabolic and catabolic hormones may affect physical performance and mobility. To address the role of the hormonal dysregulation to mobility-disability, we start to discuss the contribution of the single hormonal derangement. The studies used in this review were selected according to the period of time of publication, ranging from 2002 to 2013, and the age of the participants (≥65 years). We devoted particular attention to the effects of anabolic hormones (DHEAS, testosterone, estradiol, Vitamin D and IGF-1) on both skeletal muscle mass and strength, as well as other objective indicators of physical performance. We also analyzed the reasons beyond the inconclusive data coming from RCTs using sex hormones, thyroid hormones, and vitamin D (dosage, duration of treatment, baseline hormonal values and reached hormonal levels). We finally hypothesized that the parallel decline of anabolic hormones has a higher impact than a single hormonal derangement on adverse mobility outcomes in older population. Given the multifactorial origin of low mobility, we underlined the need of future synergistic optional treatments (micronutrients and exercise) to improve the effectiveness of hormonal treatment and to safely ameliorate the anabolic hormonal status and mobility in older individuals.

The Role of the Multiple Hormonal Dysregulation in the Onset of "Anemia of Aging": Focus on Testosterone, IGF-1, and Thyroid Hormones

Anemia is a multifactorial condition whose prevalence increases in both sexes after the fifth decade of life. It is a highly represented phenomenon in older adults and in one-third of cases is "unexplained." Ageing process is also characterized by a "multiple hormonal dysregulation" with disruption in gonadal, adrenal, and somatotropic axes. Experimental studies suggest that anabolic hormones such as testosterone, IGF-1, and thyroid hormones are able to increase erythroid mass, erythropoietin synthesis, and iron bioavailability, underlining a potential role of multiple hormonal changes in the anemia of aging. Epidemiological data more consistently support an association between lower testosterone and anemia in adult-older individuals. Low IGF-1 has been especially associated with anemia in the pediatric population and in a wide range of disorders. There is also evidence of an association between thyroid hormones and abnormalities in hematological parameters under overt thyroid and euthyroid conditions, with limited data on subclinical statuses. Although RCTs have shown beneficial effects, stronger for testosterone and the GH-IGF-1 axis and less evident for thyroid hormones, in improving different hematological parameters, there is no clear evidence for the usefulness of hormonal treatment in improving anemia in older subjects. Thus, more clinical and research efforts are needed to investigate the hormonal contribution to anemia in the older individuals.

Identification and treatment of older persons with sarcopenia

In the last decades, sarcopenia in older persons has been operationalized by the assessment of lean body mass, muscle strength and/or physical performance. Several definitions of sarcopenia, using different parameters and cut-offs, have been proposed. However, which is the best definition to describe and to assess this condition is still matter of debate. Hand grip strength has been suggested as better predictor of incident mobility impairment and mortality, than skeletal muscle mass. In the light of the current knowledge, we sought to propose an operative approach for identifying and treating sarcopenic older persons according to main categories of sarcopenia: the age-related or primary sarcopenia and disease-related or secondary sarcopenia. We suggest that a quantitative assessment of grip strength alone might be sufficient to identify patients with primary sarcopenia. When chronic diseases accompany the ageing process, the combined assessment of muscle strength plus a balance test could be more appropriate. The identification of tests and pathological relevant cut-offs that facilitates the entry of sarcopenia into the clinical practice, could step forward researchers and physicians. This could be important for planning multidisciplinary models to maximize the maintenance of locomotive abilities especially in older persons affected by chronic diseases such as Parkinson's disease.

Androgen effects on skeletal muscle: implications for the development and management of frailty

Androgens have potent anabolic effects on skeletal muscle and decline with age in parallel to losses in muscle mass and strength. This loss of muscle mass and function, known as sarcopenia, is the central event in development of frailty, the vulnerable health status that presages adverse outcomes and rapid functional decline in older adults. The potential role of falling androgen levels in the development of frailty and their utility as function promoting therapies in older men has therefore attracted considerable attention. This review summarizes current concepts and definitions in muscle ageing, sarcopenia and frailty, and evaluates recent developments in the study of androgens and frailty. Current evidence from observational and interventional studies strongly supports an effect of androgens on muscle mass in ageing men, but effects on muscle strength and particularly physical function have been less clear. Androgen treatment has been generally well–tolerated in studies of older men, but concerns remain over higher dose treatments and use in populations with high cardiovascular risk. The first trials of selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) suggest similar effects on muscle mass and function to traditional androgen therapies in older adults. Important future directions include the use of these agents in combination with exercise training to promote functional ability across different populations of older adults, as well as more focus on the relationships between concurrent changes in hormone levels, body composition and physical function in observational studies.

Age-related and disease-related muscle loss: the effect of diabetes, obesity, and other diseases

The term sarcopenia refers to the loss of muscle mass that occurs with ageing. On the basis of study results showing that muscle mass is only moderately related to functional outcomes, international working groups have proposed that loss of muscle strength or physical function should also be included in the definition. Irrespective of how sarcopenia is defined, both low muscle mass and poor muscle strength are clearly highly prevalent and important risk factors for disability and potentially mortality in individuals as they age. Many chronic diseases, in addition to ageing, could also accelerate decrease of muscle mass and strength, and this effect could be a main underlying mechanism by which chronic diseases cause physical disability. In this Review, we address both age-related and disease-related muscle loss, with a focus on diabetes and obesity but including other disease states, and potential common mechanisms and treatments. Development of treatments for age-related and disease-related muscle loss might improve active life expectancy in older people, and lead to substantial health-care savings and improved quality of life.

Pulmonary rehabilitation: the reference therapy for undernourished patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) combines the deleterious effects of chronic hypoxia, chronic inflammation, insulin-resistance, increased energy expenditure, muscle wasting, and exercise deconditioning. As for other chronic disorders, loss of fat-free mass decreased survival. The preservation of muscle mass and function, through the protection of the mitochondrial oxidative metabolism, is an important challenge in the management of COPD patients. As the prevalence of the disease is increasing and the medical advances make COPD patients live longer, the prevalence of COPD-associated nutritional disorders is expected to increase in future decades. Androgenopenia is observed in 40% of COPD patients. Due to the stimulating effects of androgens on muscle anabolism, androgenopenia favors loss of muscle mass. Studies have shown that androgen substitution could improve muscle mass in COPD patients, but alone, was insufficient to improve lung function. Two multicentric randomized clinical trials have shown that the association of androgen therapy with physical exercise and oral nutritional supplements containing omega-3 polyinsaturated fatty acids, during at least three months, is associated with an improved clinical outcome and survival. These approaches are optimized in the field of pulmonary rehabilitation which is the reference therapy of COPD-associated undernutrition.

Physiology and its importance for reference intervals

Reference intervals are ideally defined on apparently healthy individuals and should be distinguished from clinical decision limits that are derived from known diseased patients. Knowledge of physiological changes is a prerequisite for understanding and developing reference intervals. Reference intervals may differ for various subpopulations because of differences in their physiology, most obviously between men and women, but also in childhood, pregnancy and the elderly. Changes in laboratory measurements may be due to various physiological factors starting at birth including weaning, the active toddler, immunological learning, puberty, pregnancy, menopause and ageing. The need to partition reference intervals is required when there are significant physiological changes that need to be recognised. It is important that laboratorians are aware of these changes otherwise reference intervals that attempt to cover a widened inter-individual variability may lose their usefulness. It is virtually impossible for any laboratory to directly develop reference intervals for each of the physiological changes that are currently known, however indirect techniques can be used to develop or validate reference intervals in some difficult situations such as those for children. Physiology describes our life's journey, and it is only when we are familiar with that journey that we can appreciate a pathological departure.

Anabolic deficiencies in men with systolic heart failure: do co-morbidities and therapies really contribute significantly?

BACKGROUND

Deficiencies of anabolic hormones are common in men with heart failure (HF). It remains unclear whether the deranged metabolism of these hormones is the pathophysiological element of HF itself or is the consequence of co-morbidities or/and treatment in HF.

METHODS

We examined 382 men with systolic HF. Serum hormones (i.e. total testosterone [TT], DHEAS, IGF-1) were assessed using immunoassays, serum free testosterone (eFT) - using the Vermeulen equation.

RESULTS

Prevalence of TT and eFT deficiencies was similar in men with HF aged < versus ≥60 years (23% and 32% for TT and eFT deficiencies). Deficiencies in DHEAS and IGF-1 were more common in younger (63% and 92%) than older patients (48% and 73%). In men <60 years, TT deficiency was accompanied by the therapy with digoxin, eFT deficiency - the therapy with digoxin and the presence of diabetes, DHEAS deficiency - the therapy with loop diuretic (all p < 0.05). In men ≥60 years, TT deficiency - the therapy with loop diuretic, DHEAS deficiency - the therapy with spironolactone and digoxin, and hsCRP, IGF-1 deficiency - the high hsCRP (all p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Deficiencies in anabolic hormones are common in younger and older men with HF. Some therapies (but not major co-morbidities) may contribute to anabolic deficiencies.

Circulating testosterone and estradiol, autonomic balance and baroreflex sensitivity in middle-aged and elderly men with heart failure

BACKGROUND

Heart failure (HF) is considered as a cardiogeriatric syndrome. Its fundamental pathophysiological feature is autonomic imbalance (and associated abnormalities within cardiovascular reflex control), but recent evidence suggests the involvement of deranged hormone metabolism. Both these neural and endocrine pathologies have serious clinical and prognostic consequences in patients with HF. We investigated the relations between autonomic status, baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) and hormone status in men with mild systolic HF.

METHODS

We examined 46 men with stable systolic HF (age: 62 ± 10 years, NYHA class I/II: 10/36 [22%/78%], ischemic aetiology: 72%, left ventricular ejection fraction: 32 ± 8%). Serum hormone levels (i.e. total testosterone [TT], dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate [DHEAS], oestradiol [E2], insulin-like growth factor type 1 [IGF-1] and cortisol) were assessed using immunoassays. Estimated free testosterone (eFT) was estimated using the Vermeulen's equation. Heart rate variability (HRV) was assessed in time and frequency domains, based on 10-min resting recordings. BRS was estimated using the sequence method (BRS-Seq) and the phenylephrine test (BRS-Phe).

RESULTS

Deficiencies in circulating TT, eFT, DHEAS and IGF-1 (defined as a serum hormone ≤the 10th percentile calculated for the adequate age category in the cohort of healthy men) were found in respectively 13%, 30%, 55% and 93% of men with systolic HF. Serum SHBG ≥50 nmol/L and cortisol ≥700 nmol/L characterised, respectively 44% and 29% of men with HF. In multivariable models after the adjustment for clinical variables, the following relationships were found in examined men: DHEAS and SDNN (time domain of HRV defined as a standard deviation of average R-R intervals) (β = 0.29, p = 0.03); E2 and: HRV-LF (ms(2)) (β = 0.37, p = 0.01), HRV-HF (ms2) (β = 0.44, p = 0.02) and BRS-Phe (β = 0.51, p = 0.008); TT and: HRV-HF (%) (β = 0.35, p = 0.02), HRV-LF/HF ratio (β = -0.35, p = 0.02) and BRS-Seq (β = 0.33, p = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

The observed associations between reduced circulating androgens, oestrogens and lower HRV and depleted BRS, irrespectively of HF severity suggest the pathophysiological links between these two mechanisms. These results constitute the premises to investigate whether the pharmacological supplementation of depleted hormones would enable to restore the autonomic balance and improve the efficacy of reflex control within the cardiovascular system in men with systolic HF.

Frailty, sarcopenia, and hormones

Frailty is now a definable clinical syndrome with a simple screening test. Age-related changes in hormones play a major role in the development of frailty by reducing muscle mass and strength (sarcopenia). Selective Androgen Receptor Molecules and ghrelin agonists are being developed to treat sarcopenia. The role of Activin Type IIB soluble receptors and Follistatin-like 3 mimetics is less certain because of side effects. Exercise (resistance and aerobic), vitamin D and protein supplementation, and reduction of polypharmacy are keys to the treatment of frailty.

Sex hormones and sarcopenia in older persons

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Sarcopenia is a geriatric syndrome characterized by progressive and generalized loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength with a risk of adverse outcomes such as physical disability, poor quality of life, and death. Sarcopenia is a multifactorial process involving the decline of androgens, including dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) and testosterone. The aim of this review is to highlight the effects of DHEAS and testosterone treatment to counteract sarcopenia, especially in older men.

RECENT FINDINGS

DHEAS and, more importantly, testosterone treatment are associated with increased muscle mass, whereas the effects on muscle function and physical performance are less clear. The results of recent randomized placebo controlled trials with DHEAS in older men and women and testosterone in men with mobility limitation are discussed. The novel current and future scenarios to attenuate the detrimental effects and to optimize the efficacy of sex hormone treatment are also addressed.

SUMMARY

DHEAS and testosterone are important options in the armamentarium of sarcopenia treatment in older men. Future studies are needed to address new approaches by using selective compounds, targeting the correct form and dosage, tailoring the correct patient to treat, and taking into account the multifactorial origin and the new definition of sarcopenia.

Testosterone replacement therapy among elderly males: the Testim Registry in the US (TRiUS)

Background:

Testosterone levels naturally decline with age in men, often resulting in testosterone deficiency (hypogonadism). However, few studies have examined hypogonadal characteristics and treatment in older (≥65 years) men.

Objective:

To compare data at baseline and after 12 months of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in hypogonadal men ≥65 vs <65 years old. Data for participants 65–74 vs ≥75 years old were also compared.

Methods:

Data were from TRiUS (Testim Registry in the United States), which enrolled 849 hypogonadal men treated with Testim^® 1% (50–100 mg testosterone gel/day) for the first time. Anthropometric, laboratory, and clinical measures were taken at baseline and 12 months, including primary outcomes of total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (FT), and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. Comparisons of parameters were made using Fisher’s exact test or analysis of variance. Nonparametric Spearman’s ρ and first-order partial correlation coefficients adjusted for the effect of age were used to examine bivariate correlations among parameters.

Results:

Of the registry participants at baseline with available age information, 16% (133/845) were ≥65 years old. They were similar to men <65 years old in the duration of hypogonad-ism prior to enrollment (∼1 year), TT and FT levels at baseline, TT and FT levels at 12-month follow-up, and in reported compliance with treatment. Older patients were more likely to receive lower doses of TRT. PSA levels did not statistically differ between groups after 12 months of TRT (2.18 ± 2.18 ng/mL for ≥65 vs 1.14 ± 0.84 ng/mL for <65 years old, P = 0.1). Baseline values for the >75-year-old subcohort were not significantly different from subcohorts aged 65–74 years and <65 years.

Conclusion:

Hypogonadal men ≥65 years old showed significant benefit from TRT over 12 months, similar to that found for hypogonadal men <65 years old. TRT was well tolerated in older patients, successfully increased testosterone level regardless of age, and did not significantly increase PSA levels in older men.

Low testosterone in ageing men: a modifiable risk factor for frailty?

There is substantial interest in the role of testosterone (T) in male ageing. Studies suggest that low T may be a risk factor for frailty, the vulnerable health status that occurs at advanced ages. However, T deficiency is relatively rare in ageing men and, importantly, is linked to modifiable risk factors including body weight and concurrent illnesses. These observations shift the focus away from hormone replacement and towards potential preventative strategies to help maintain T levels in ageing men. Furthermore, the effects of T on physical function remain inconsistent, and studies examining the safety of T treatment in ageing males raise concerns. Further research may usefully focus on novel pro-anabolic pharmaceutical agents, which together with other interventions will allow for optimal management of frailty.