Journal
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM
Volume 95, Issue 10, Pages 4743-4747Publisher
ENDOCRINE SOC
DOI: 10.1210/jc.2010-0864
Keywords
-
Categories
Funding
- Evans Medical Research Foundation
- National Institute on Aging [UO1AG14369]
- Boston Older American Independence Center [P30 AG031679]
- NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING [P30AG031679, U01AG014369] Funding Source: NIH RePORTER
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Context: The mechanisms by which testosterone increases hemoglobin and hematocrit are unknown. Objective: The aim was to test the hypothesis that testosterone-induced increase in hematocrit is associated with suppression of the iron regulatory peptide hepcidin. Participants: Healthy younger men (ages 19-35 yr; n = 53) and older men (ages 59-75 yr; n = 56) were studied. Methods: Weekly doses of testosterone enanthate (25, 50, 125, 300, and 600 mg) were administered over 20 wk, whereas endogenous testosterone was suppressed by monthly GnRH agonist administration. Blood and serum parameters from each individual were measured at wk 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 20. Longitudinal analyses were performed to examine the relationship between hepcidin, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and testosterone while controlling for potential confounders. Results: High levels of testosterone markedly suppressed serum hepcidin within 1 wk. Hepcidin suppression in response to testosterone administration was dose-dependent in older men and more pronounced than in young men, and this corresponded to a greater rise in hemoglobin in older men. Serum hepcidin levels at 4 and 8 wk were predictive of change in hematocrit from baseline to peak levels. Conclusion: Testosterone administration is associated with suppression of serum hepcidin. Greater increases in hematocrit in older men during testosterone therapy are related to greater suppression of hepcidin. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 95: 4743-4747, 2010)
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available