Serum Total and Bioavailable Testosterone Levels, Central Obesity, and Muscle Strength Changes with Aging in Healthy Chinese Men

• Published in: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (JAGS) 2008-07, Vol.56 (7), p.1286-1291
• Main Authors: Chu, Leung-Wing, Tam, Sidney, Kung, Annie W. C., Lo, Sue, Fan, Susan, Wong, Rachel L. C., Morley, John E., Lam, Karen S. L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Aging - blood; Aging - physiology; Androgens - blood; Androgens - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Availability; Body fat; Body Mass Index; central obesity; China; Chinese men; Cross-Sectional Studies; Effects; General aspects; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Mens health; Metabolic diseases; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; muscle strength; Muscle Strength - physiology; Muscular system; Obesity; Obesity - etiology; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Testosterone; Testosterone - blood; Testosterone - metabolism
• ISSN: 0002-8614; 1532-5415
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2008.01746.x

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of the changes in serum bioavailable and total testosterone (TT) levels with aging on visceral body fat distribution and muscle strength in Chinese men. DESIGN: Cross‐sectional study. SETTING: Ambulatory care. PARTICIPANTS: Four hundred seventy‐five healthy ambulatory Chinese men (aged 18–89, body mass index (BMI) 16.4–40.0 kg/m2). MEASUREMENTS: Morning serum total and bioavailable testosterone levels, waist circumference (WC), waist‐hip ratio (WHR), and right handgrip strength. RESULTS: Mean serum TT levels fell mildly but significantly with aging (P=.02, linear trend; one‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA)), whereas mean serum bioavailable testosterone (BT) levels fell greatly with aging (P