Publication:

Male sex hormone as a correlate of endothelial function in middle-aged Indian males: a cross-sectional prospective observational study

Background Data on relationship between serum testosterone and endothelial dysfunction measured by brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (BAFMD) in Indian subset are scarce. The present study was envisaged to assess the correlation between serum testosterone and endothelial dysfunction measured by BAFMD.

Methods From October 2013 till September 2014, 92 Indian male patients aged 40-60 years who underwent investigation of flow-mediated dilatation of the brachial artery using ultra sonography were included. The association between serum testosterone and BAFMD percent-measured endothelial dysfunction was examined.

Results Multivariate regression analysis in 92 Indian male patients (mean age 53.12±6.3 years) revealed that low levels of total serum, serum free and serum bioavailable testosterone were significantly associated with BAFMD% and were independent of age, hypertension, diabetes, body mass index (BMI), current smoking and hyperlipidaemia (p<0.001). The total serum, serum free and serum bioavailable testosterone were positively correlated with BAFMD% with Pearson correlation coefficients of r=0.572, r=0.525 and r=0.547, respectively (p<0.001).

Conclusions Low levels of total serum, serum free and serum bioavailable testosterone were significantly associated with BAFMD%-measured endothelial dysfunction, irrespective of cardiovascular risk factors.