Correlative studies on vitamin D and total, free bioavailable testosterone levels in young, healthy men

Anna Książek,Aleksandra Zagrodna,Marek Mędraś,Małgorzata Słowińska-Lisowska,Felicja Lwow

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-99571-8

Anna Książek, Aleksandra Zagrodna + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-99571-8

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Abstract

The relationship between vitamin D levels and testicular hormonal function in men has not been clearly established. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the relationship between deficiency/insufficiency levels of 25(OH)D and luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), total (TT), free (FT), and bioavailable testosterone (BT), and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) in young, healthy men. We enrolled 176 healthy, active young men aged 18–35 years from a genetically homogenous population of Lower Silesia, Poland. Serum levels of 25(OH)D, LH, FSH, and TT were measured by electrochemiluminescence (ECLIA). FT levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). BT levels were calculated from TT, SHBG, and albumin. SHBG was measured by chemiluminescent immunoassay CLIA. We did not find any significant differences between the mean hormonal values (LH, FSH, TT, FT, BT, and SHBG) and the status of 25(OH)D level (deficient and insufficient). Based on our results, we concluded that there is no relationship between deficient and insufficient 25(OH)D concentration and androgen levels in young, healthy men.

Highlights

Vitamin D deficiency is becoming a public health problem in all age groups in developing and developed countries[1]
Vitamin D has been suggested to play a role in sex steroid production, based on the evidence of the expression of vitamin D receptors (VDR) and vitamin D metabolizing enzymes, which are simultaneously expressed in Leydig cells and in Sertoli cells, germ cells, spermatozoa and in the epithelial cells lining the male reproductive t ract[6,9]
Testosterone production, by the Leydig cells that reside in the interstitial compartment, is under strict control of luteinizing hormone (LH), which induces steroidogenesis by increasing cyclic AMP production and the intracellular concentration of calcium ions ( Ca2+) in Leydig cells and 1α,25dihydroxyvitamin D might exert an influence by modulating this calcium-dependent LH response[10]

Summary

Introduction

Vitamin D deficiency is becoming a public health problem in all age groups in developing and developed countries[1]. From an evolutionary point of view, vitamin D is one of the oldest biologically active compounds It has had various metabolic functions throughout the history of the species’ development, in different cells. Vitamin D exhibits features of endocrine action in the regulation of phosphate and calcium and parathormone metabolism, whereas it shows signs of an auto-, para- or juxtacrine signalling molecule in the remainder of its biological effects. With these mechanisms, it can affect the function of many cells, tissues, and systems, including Leydig cells[15], which are the main source of testosterone in the male body

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