The Age-Associated Decline of Androgens in Reproductive Age and Menopausal Black and White Women

@article{citeulike:2223181, abstract = {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 1560 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. 10.1210/jc.2006-2365}, author = {Spencer, Jessica B. and Klein, Mitchel and Kumar, Ashim and Azziz, Ricardo }, citeulike-article-id = {2223181}, doi = {10.1210/jc.2006-2365}, journal = {J Clin Endocrinol Metab}, keywords = {androgen, femalegonadal}, month = {December}, number = {12}, pages = {4730--4733}, posted-at = {2008-01-12 19:09:18}, priority = {2}, title = {The Age-Associated Decline of Androgens in Reproductive Age and Menopausal Black and White Women}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1210/jc.2006-2365}, volume = {92}, year = {2007} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:2223181 L3 - citeulike-article-id:2223181 TI - The Age-Associated Decline of Androgens in Reproductive Age and Menopausal Black and White Women JF - J Clin Endocrinol Metab VL - 92 IS - 12 SP - 4730 EP - 4733 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 1560 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. 10.1210/jc.2006-2365 KW - androgen KW - femalegonadal AU - Spencer, Jessica AU - Klein, Mitchel AU - Kumar, Ashim AU - Azziz, Ricardo PY - 2007/12/01/ UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1210/jc.2006-2365 ER -