Male aging: hormonal profiles in serum and urine among patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia versus healthy men

Abstract

The development of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is undoubtedly related to male aging. However, data on the hormonal profile in aging men with prostate pathologies are ambiguous. The aim of this study was to compare the serum levels of selected hormones and the 24-h urine excretion of androgen steroids in 24 patients with BPH aged 62–86 (mean age 70.5 years) with those in 15 healthy men aged 38–70 (mean age 56.6 years). The quantities of testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), androsterone and etiocholanolone in 24-h urine samples were assessed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Serum samples were assayed for estradiol, total and free testosterone levels (using radioimmunoassay), and for sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and prolactin levels (using immunoradiometric assay (IRMA)). Free androgen index (FAI), the serum testosterone/estradiol ratio and the urine androsterone/etiocholanolone ratio were calculated. The intergroup differences of hormonal variables were tested using the Mann–Whitney U test. There were no differences in the androgen and estrogen endogenous activities between men with BPH and healthy subjects. Patients with BPH had higher serum gonadotropin (LH, FSH) levels than healthy men. Moreover, patients with BPH had reduced 24-h urine excretion of testosterone, androsterone and DHEA (but not etiocholanolone) when compared to healthy subjects. This observation could reflect the more intense conversion of these steroids, e.g. to estrogens within the peripheral tissues (i.e. within the prostate), among men with BPH. Patients with BPH were also characterized by the reduced urine androsterone/etiocholanolone ratio, that could in turn reflect the diminished activity of the metabolic conversions involving 5α-reductase among these men. Even though no essential differences in the serum hormonal profile between patients with BPH and healthy men were found, it could be assumed that there were differences in metabolism of these steroids within peripheral tissues (e.g. within the prostate) between these two examined groups (this was shown indirectly by differences in urine hormonal profile).

• MALE AGING
• BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA
• SERUM HORMONAL PROFILE
• URINE HORMONAL PROFILE