Low testosterone level of middle-aged Japanese men – the association between low testosterone levels and quality-of-life

Abstract

Abstract Background: Late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) is due to age-related steep declines in free testosterone levels in middle age. LOH can induce a variety of signs and symptoms that deteriorate the quality-of-life (QOL) of middle-aged men. This study examined the circadian rhythm of salivary testosterone levels in three age cohorts: 20s–30s, 40s–50s, and 60s+ to investigate the association between QOL and testosterone levels in adult Japanese men. Subjects and Methods: Eighty-one healthy male Japanese volunteers and 20 LOH patients in their 40s–50s were recruited. Their salivary testosterone levels were measured as were independent variables including Body Mass Index (BMI) and smoking rates. The SF-36 v2 was used as the health-related questionnaire to evaluate QOL. Saliva samples were collected at 2-hour intervals between 9:00 am and 9:00 pm. Salivary testosterone levels were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA: Demeditec Diagnostics, Germany). Results: There were no significant ...