Correlation Between the Aging Males’ Symptoms Scale and Sex Steroids, Gonadotropins, Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate, and Growth Hormone Levels in Ambulatory Men

Abstract

Partial androgen deficiency of the aging male (PADAM) is defined as a biochemical syndrome associated with advancing age that is characterized by a deficiency in serum androgen levels. The Aging Males' Symptoms (AMS) Scale was developed to evaluate PADAM-related symptoms and is currently used worldwide; however, it has been reported that PADAM-related symptoms evaluated by this scale are not related to serum testosterone levels. In addition to testosterone, the levels of other hormones also decrease with age; therefore, multihormone alterations may influence PADAM-related symptoms. To investigate the relationship between PADAM-related symptoms evaluated by the AMS Scale and serum levels of testosterone, estradiol (E2), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), and growth hormone (GH) in men. A total of 141 ambulatory men were recruited after excluding men with endocrine and other related diseases. All participants completed the AMS questionnaire and an analysis of serum levels of total and free testosterone (TT and FT), E2, LH, FSH, DHEA-S, and GH. The relationship between AMS scores (total and subscores) and serum hormone levels was determined. There were significant negative correlations between age and serum FT and DHEA-S levels, as well as positive correlations between age and serum LH and FSH levels, but no correlation between age and AMS scores. None of the three AMS domain scale scores and total scores significantly correlated with serum levels of TT, FT, E2, LH, FSH, DHEA-S, or GH. The results of the present study suggest that PADAM-related symptoms as evaluated by the AMS Scale are not significantly related to serum levels of TT, FT, E2, LH, FSH, DHEA-S, or GH. Because many factors related to aging are thought to contribute to the occurrence of PADAM-related symptoms, the AMS Scale may not be able to predict serum hormone levels.