Testosterone, SHBG and differential white blood cell count in middle-aged and older men

Testosterone, SHBG and differential white blood cell count in middle-aged and older men

Judith S. Branda, Corresponding author contact information, E-mail the corresponding author,
Yvonne T. van der Schouwa,
Mitch Dowsettb,
Elizabeth Folkerdb,
Robert N. Lubenc,
Nicholas J. Warehamd,
Kay-Tee Khawc

a Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands
b Academic Department of Biochemistry, Royal Marsden Hospital, SW3 6JJ London, United Kingdom
c Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, CB3 0DS Cambridge, United Kingdom
d Medical Research Council, Epidemiology Unit, CB1 9NL Cambridge, United Kingdom

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2011.12.007, How to Cite or Link Using DOI

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Abstract
Objective

Low-grade chronic inflammation is increasingly being implicated in cardiovascular disease (CVD) etiology and may represent an alternative pathway through which testosterone and sexhormone-bindingglobulin (SHBG) influence CVD risk. We examined the associations between endogenous testosterone, SHBG and total and differential white blood cell (WBC) counts in men.
Methods

Cross-sectional study of 2418 men aged 40–78 years from the Norfolk population of European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC-Norfolk) who had no history of CVD or cancer and complete data on sexhormones (total testosterone (TT), SHBG and free testosterone (FT)) and WBC counts. Associations between sexhormones and WBC counts were assessed using linear regression models.
Results

Higher SHBG and TT levels were associated with lower WBC counts. After adjustment for age, BMI, smoking, physical activity and diabetes status, total WBC count decreased by 0.163 (95% CI −0.236; −0.091) and 0.102 (−0.170; −0.034) per standard deviation (SD) increase in SHBG and TT respectively. Associations of SHBG and TT with total WBC count were mainly accounted for by a lower granulocyte count (β coefficient = −0.132 (−0.194; −0.070) per SD increase in SHBG and β coefficient = −0.104 (−0.161; −0.046) per SD increase in TT). No associations between FT and total and differential WBC counts were found.
Conclusions

Endogenous TT and SHBG levels are inversely associated with total WBC and granulocyte count in middle-aged and older men. Even though the underlying mechanism and causal directionality requires further exploration, these results support a link between hormonal status and low-grade inflammation.