Association between plasma 25-OH vitamin D and testosterone levels in men

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Item Type:	Article
Title:	Association between plasma 25-OH vitamin D and testosterone levels in men
Creators Name:	Nimptsch, K., Platz, E.A., Willett, W.C. and Giovannucci, E.
Abstract:	Objective: A small randomized controlled trial suggested that vitamin D might increase the production of testosterone in men, which is supported by experimental studies in animals and a cross-sectional study showing positive associations between plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and testosterone and concordant seasonal variation of both biomarkers. Design and Measurements: We investigated the cross-sectional association of plasma 25(OH)D levels and total and free testosterone measured by immunoassay in 1,362 male participants of the Health Professionals Follow-up Study who were selected for a nested case-control study on prostate cancer using multivariate adjusted linear and restricted cubic spline regression models. Results: 25(OH)D was positively associated with total and free testosterone levels. From the lowest to the highest 25(OH)D quintile, multivariate adjusted means (95% confidence interval) were 18.5 (17.7; 19.4), 19.4 (18.6; 20.2), 19.6 (18.8; 20.4), 20.1 (19.3; 20.9) and 20.0 (19.1; 20.8); p-trend=0.003) for total testosterone and 97.7 (93.9; 101.5), 98.2 (94.1; 102.2), 99.2 (95.2; 103.2), 100.7 (96.9; 104.5) and 101.5 (97.6; 105.4; p-trend=0.03) for free testosterone. The shapes of the dose-response curves indicate that the association between 25(OH)D and total and free testosterone is linear at lower levels of 25(OH)D (below approximately 75-85 nmol/l), reaching a plateau at higher levels. Unlike for 25(OH)D, we did not observe any seasonal variation of testosterone concentrations. Conclusion: This study supports previously reported positive associations between vitamin D and testosterone although we did not observe parallel seasonal variation patterns. Possible causality and direction of the vitamin D-testosterone association deserve further scientific investigation.
Keywords:	Vitamin D, Testosterone
Source:	Clinical Endocrinology
ISSN:	0300-0664
Publisher:	Wiley-Blackwell
Volume:	77
Number:	1
Page Range:	106-112
Date:	July 2012
Official Publication:	https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2265.2012.04332.x
PubMed:	View item in PubMed

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