1. Oxidative Stress and Inflammation Are Associated With Age-Related Endothelial Dysfunction in Men With Low Testosterone
- Author
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Kerry L. Hildreth, Kerrie L. Moreau, Robert S. Schwartz, Brian L. Stauffer, Wendy M. Kohrt, Matthew C. Babcock, Lyndsey E. DuBose, and Teresa L. Witten
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,Aging ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Adolescent ,Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism ,Clinical Biochemistry ,Context (language use) ,medicine.disease_cause ,Biochemistry ,Young Adult ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Endocrinology ,Internal medicine ,Androgen deficiency ,medicine ,Humans ,Testosterone ,Endothelial dysfunction ,Online Only Articles ,Aged ,Vitamin C ,Cholesterol ,business.industry ,Biochemistry (medical) ,Ultrasonography, Doppler ,Testosterone (patch) ,Middle Aged ,medicine.disease ,Plethysmography ,Oxidative Stress ,Cross-Sectional Studies ,chemistry ,Cardiovascular Diseases ,Heart Disease Risk Factors ,Endothelium, Vascular ,business ,Blood Flow Velocity ,Oxidative stress ,Lipoprotein - Abstract
Context Vascular aging, including endothelial dysfunction secondary to oxidative stress and inflammation, increases the risk for age-associated cardiovascular disease (CVD). Low testosterone in middle-aged/older men is associated with increased CVD risk. Objective We hypothesized that low testosterone contributes to age-associated endothelial dysfunction, related in part to greater oxidative stress and inflammation. Methods This cross-sectional study included 58 healthy, nonsmoking men categorized as young (N = 20; age 29 ± 4 years; testosterone 500 ± 58 ng/dL), middle-aged/older with higher testosterone (N = 20; age 60 ± 6 years; testosterone 512 ± 115 ng/dL), and middle-aged/older lower testosterone (N = 18; age 59 ± 8 years; testosterone 269 ± 48 ng/dL). Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMDBA) was measured during acute infusion of saline (control) and vitamin C (antioxidant). Markers of oxidative stress (total antioxidant status and oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol), inflammation (interleukin [IL]-6 and C-reactive protein [CRP]), and androgen deficiency symptoms were also examined. Results During saline, FMDBA was reduced in middle-aged/older compared with young, regardless of testosterone status (P < 0.001). FMDBA was reduced in middle-aged/older lower testosterone (3.7% ± 2.0%) compared with middle-aged/older higher testosterone (5.7% ± 2.2%; P = 0.021), independent of symptoms. Vitamin C increased FMDBA (to 5.3% ± 1.6%; P = 0.022) in middle-aged/older lower testosterone but had no effect in young (P = 0.992) or middle-aged/older higher testosterone (P = 0.250). FMDBA correlated with serum testosterone (r = 0.45; P < 0.001), IL-6 (r = −0.41; P = 0.002), and CRP (r = −0.28; P = 0.041). Conclusion Healthy middle-aged/older men with low testosterone appear to have greater age-associated endothelial dysfunction, related in part to greater oxidative stress and inflammation. These data suggest that low testosterone concentrations may contribute to accelerated vascular aging in men.
- Published
- 2021