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S ‐testosterone decrease after a mixed meal in healthy men independent of SHBG and gonadotrophin levels
Author(s) -
Lehtihet M.,
Arver S.,
Bartuseviciene I.,
Pousette Å.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
andrologia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.633
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1439-0272
pISSN - 0303-4569
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0272.2012.01296.x
Subject(s) - morning , testosterone (patch) , sex hormone binding globulin , endocrinology , medicine , meal , circadian rhythm , endocrine system , physiology , androgen , hormone
Summary Reproducible and accurate assessment of serum testosterone ( S ‐ T ), S ‐ LH and S ‐ SHBG is of crucial importance for assessment of testicular endocrine function and diagnosis of hypogonadism and investigating male health in a broader sense. Testosterone secretion has a circadian rhythm with the highest component in the morning and is influenced by a series of factors including physical activity, mental stress and nutrition. For diagnostic purposes, analysis of morning samples is recommended and reference values are generally based on samples drawn between 7 and 10 am. In the literature, there are also indications that food intake can influence serum levels but fasting has not been a standard procedure. To carefully address the influence of food intake, we analysed S ‐testosterone, S ‐ LH and S ‐ SHBG after an overnight fasting compared to samples taken after a standard meal of 550 kcal. We found no change in S ‐ LH or S ‐ SHBG but a decline of S ‐ T of 30% from 60 to 120 min after food intake compared to samples taken in the fasting state. This decline may give false low S ‐ T values and overestimate the number of men with suspected hypogonadism. Until the mechanism behind this effect has been explored, we suggest that assessment of S ‐ T for diagnostic purposes should be collected in the morning after an overnight fasting.