Abstract A93: Correlates of total testosterone and testosterone deficiency in African American men

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Elevated serum total testosterone (TT) levels have been associated with increased prostate cancer incidence and mortality faced by African American (AA) men. Testosterone deficiency (TD) is linked to several health outcomes including increased cancer and all-cause mortality. Several studies have examined the relationships between TT levels and biochemical and environmental factors, but few have examined these correlates in AA men. This study evaluated TT levels, TD and their correlates in AA men. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 191 controls recruited from 2000–2003 from the Urology clinic at the Howard University Hospital, along with demographic data, reported alcohol use, and BMI. Measurements of testosterone (total and free), prostate specific antigen (PSA), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol, HDL, VLDL, LDL, IGF1 and IGFBP3 levels were obtained from the blood. Percentage west African genetic ancestry was determined using a panel of 100 ancestry informative markers. Results: On linear regression, age, HDL, LDL and IGFBP3 levels were associated with TT levels (p< 0.05). However, TT levels were not associated with degree of West African ancestry (p = 0.52). Using multivariate analysis, TD deficiency (TT < 300 ng/dL) was positively associated with TG levels (p < 0.05), alcohol use and elevated BMI (p = 0.018 for both). The highest quartile BMI (BMI > 31) was at 2.48 times higher risk for TD than the lowest quartile (< 25). The correlates of TT levels and risk factors for TD in AA men are similar to the established risk factors in European American men. Citation Information: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2011;20(10 Suppl):A93.