Effects of testosterone administration on nocturnal cortisol secretion in healthy older men

Ranganath Muniyappa, Johannes D. Veldhuis, S. Mitchell Harman, John D. Sorkin, Marc R. Blackman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

In animal studies, testosterone decreases, whereas estrogen increases, cortisol production. In one clinical study, short-term testosterone replacement attenuated corticotrophin-releasing hormone-stimulated cortisol secretion during leuprolide-induced hypogonadism in young men. The effects of longer term testosterone treatment on spontaneous cortisol secretion in younger or older men are unknown. In a randomized, double-masked placebo-controlled study, we assessed the effects of testosterone supplementation (100 mg intramuscular every 2 week) for 26 weeks on nocturnal cortisol secretory dynamics in healthy older men. Testosterone administration increased early morning serum concentrations of free testosterone by 34%, decreased sex hormone-binding globulin by 20%, and did not alter early morning concentrations of cortisol-binding globulin or cortisol compared with placebo treatment. Testosterone did not significantly alter nocturnal mean and integrated cortisol concentrations, cortisol burst frequency, mass/burst, basal secretion, pulsatile cortisol production rate, pattern regularity, or approximate entropy. We conclude that low-dose testosterone supplementation for 26 weeks does not affect spontaneous nocturnal cortisol secretion in healthy older men.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1185-1192
Number of pages8
JournalJournals of Gerontology - Series A Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
Volume65 A
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2010
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Aging
  • Cortisol
  • Testosterone

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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