Serum Concentrations of Dihydrotestosterone Are Associated With Symptoms of Hypogonadism in Biochemically Eugonadal Men

April 2021 in “ Journal of Endocrinological Investigation ”

Andrea Sansone, Sabine Kliesch, Martin Dugas, Reinhild Sandhowe-Klaverkamp, Andrea M. Isidori, Stefan Schlatt, Michael Zitzmann

dihydrotestosterone DHT testosterone hypogonadism serum concentrations biochemically eugonadal International Index of Erectile Function Aging Males Symptoms scale

Studysummary This study concluded that among men with normal testosterone levels, a small increase in serum dihydrotestosterone may reduce symptoms of hypogonadism, suggesting its potential diagnostic use after ruling out hypogonadism.

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The study examined the association between dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels and symptoms of hypogonadism in men with normal testosterone levels. It included 635 men for the International Index of Erectile Function and 574 men for the Aging Males Symptoms scale, with mean ages of 47.3 and 47.4 years, respectively. The findings revealed that in men with normal testosterone levels (Total T>12 nmol/L), higher DHT levels were significantly linked to fewer symptoms of hypogonadism, with a 0.1 nmol/L increase in DHT correlating to a 4.67% decrease in the odds of worse symptoms. However, in men with biochemical hypogonadism (Total T<12 nmol/L), testosterone levels were more closely associated with symptoms than DHT. The study suggests that measuring serum DHT could be useful for assessing symptoms of hypogonadism in men with normal testosterone levels, but it should not be part of the primary diagnostic process for hypogonadism.

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