TY - JOUR
T1 - Brief report
T2 - The age-associated decline of androgens in reproductive age and menopausal black and white women
AU - Spencer, Jessica B.
AU - Klein, Mitchel
AU - Kumar, Ashim
AU - Azziz, Ricardo
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by National Institutes of Health Grants RO1-HD29364 and K24-HD01346 (to R.A.).
PY - 2007/12
Y1 - 2007/12
N2 - Context: The effect of race and obesity on the age-associated decline of androgens in reproductive-aged and menopausal women has not been well characterized. Objective: Our objective was to determine the impact of racial differences and body mass index (BMI) on the change in androgen levels during a woman's reproductive and early menopausal years. Design and Setting: We conducted a frequency-matched cross-sectional study at a tertiary academic medical center. Patients or Other Participants: Subjects included 260 healthy, nonhirsute and eumenorrheic, self-identified Black and White women, ages 15-60 yr. Interventions: A medical and reproductive history, physical exam, and blood sampling were determined in the fasting state during the early follicular phase. Main Outcome Measures: Serum levels of androgens or androgen metabolites (dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, androstenedione, and total and free testosterone) and SHBG were measured and the BMI, the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and the basal insulin resistance estimated by the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance determined. Results: After controlling for differences in BMI, insulin resistance, and WHR, Black women had lower androgen levels than age-matched White women. All androgens, or androgen metabolites, declined similarly across the reproductive lifespan and menopausal transition in both Black and White women. Race was a significant predictor of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, androstenedione, and total and free testosterone but not SHBG. Conclusions: Eumenorrheic, nonhirsute Black women have a lower range of normal androgen levels than White women of the same age, BMI, WHR, and homeostasis model assessment index for insulin resistance. Race and age-adjusted data should be considered when evaluating androgen levels in women between the ages of 15 and 60 yr.
AB - Context: The effect of race and obesity on the age-associated decline of androgens in reproductive-aged and menopausal women has not been well characterized. Objective: Our objective was to determine the impact of racial differences and body mass index (BMI) on the change in androgen levels during a woman's reproductive and early menopausal years. Design and Setting: We conducted a frequency-matched cross-sectional study at a tertiary academic medical center. Patients or Other Participants: Subjects included 260 healthy, nonhirsute and eumenorrheic, self-identified Black and White women, ages 15-60 yr. Interventions: A medical and reproductive history, physical exam, and blood sampling were determined in the fasting state during the early follicular phase. Main Outcome Measures: Serum levels of androgens or androgen metabolites (dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, androstenedione, and total and free testosterone) and SHBG were measured and the BMI, the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and the basal insulin resistance estimated by the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance determined. Results: After controlling for differences in BMI, insulin resistance, and WHR, Black women had lower androgen levels than age-matched White women. All androgens, or androgen metabolites, declined similarly across the reproductive lifespan and menopausal transition in both Black and White women. Race was a significant predictor of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, androstenedione, and total and free testosterone but not SHBG. Conclusions: Eumenorrheic, nonhirsute Black women have a lower range of normal androgen levels than White women of the same age, BMI, WHR, and homeostasis model assessment index for insulin resistance. Race and age-adjusted data should be considered when evaluating androgen levels in women between the ages of 15 and 60 yr.
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U2 - 10.1210/jc.2006-2365
DO - 10.1210/jc.2006-2365
M3 - Article
C2 - 17895325
AN - SCOPUS:36849096097
SN - 0021-972X
VL - 92
SP - 4730
EP - 4733
JO - Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
JF - Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
IS - 12
ER -