Deslypere J P, Vermeulen A
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1984 Nov;59(5):955-62. doi: 10.1210/jcem-59-5-955.
The decrease of plasma testosterone (T) in old age may be inherent to the aging process or secondary to environmental factors such as stress, minor illness, physical inactivity, etc. We determined plasma T, apparent free T, and gonadotropin levels in healthy men (n = 71), aged 26-90 yr living under identical conditions, i.e. as monks in a monastery. We found a highly significant age-dependent decrease in morning and mean 24-h T and apparent free T levels and a moderate increase in gonadotropin levels; the nycthemeral variation in plasma levels was, however, decreased in the elderly. In a larger group of healthy normal men (n = 302), smokers had higher T levels than nonsmokers in all age groups; values were similar whether older men lived in a geriatric institution or in their home. Diet had no discernable effect on T levels, whereas in young men plasma T levels decreased more in response to stress such as hypoglycemia or myocardial infarction than in elderly subjects. Moderate physical training in men, convalescing from myocardial infarction, did not alter consistently plasma T levels. We conclude that the age-associated decrease in plasma T levels is inherent to the aging process.
老年男性血浆睾酮（T）水平的降低可能是衰老过程所固有的，也可能是由压力、小病、缺乏体育活动等环境因素导致的继发性变化。我们测定了生活在相同条件下（即作为修道院中的僧侣）的71名26至90岁健康男性的血浆T、表观游离T和促性腺激素水平。我们发现，早晨及24小时平均T和表观游离T水平随年龄增长显著下降，促性腺激素水平则适度升高；然而，老年人血浆水平的昼夜变化减小。在一组更大的健康正常男性（n = 302）中，所有年龄组的吸烟者T水平均高于不吸烟者；无论老年男性住在老年机构还是家中，T值相似。饮食对T水平没有明显影响，而在年轻男性中，血浆T水平对低血糖或心肌梗死等压力的反应比老年受试者更明显。心肌梗死后正在康复的男性进行适度体育锻炼，并没有持续改变血浆T水平。我们得出结论，血浆T水平随年龄增长而下降是衰老过程所固有的。
