Association Between 25-hydroxyvitamin D Levels and Testosterone in Healthy, Non-Obese, Young Adult, Filipino Men

Myrna Buenaluz-Sedurante; Racquel Bruno; Daryl Jade Dagang; Mark Isaiah Co; Michael Tee

doi:10.15605/jafes.038.02.14

Authors

Myrna Buenaluz-Sedurante University of the Philippines College of Medicine, Manila https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9172-5477
Racquel Bruno University of the Philippines College of Medicine, Manila https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2347-9141
Daryl Jade Dagang University of the Philippines College of Medicine, Manila https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1482-0774
Mark Isaiah Co University of the Philippines College of Medicine, Manila https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6769-0120
Michael Tee University of the Philippines College of Medicine, Manila

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15605/jafes.038.02.14

Keywords:

Total Testosterone, Vitamin D, sex hormone binding globulin

Abstract

Objective. This study seeks to determine the association between vitamin D and testosterone in healthy, adult Filipino males.

Methodology. This cross-sectional study included 110 healthy, non-obese, male volunteers aged 21–40. History and physical exam were taken, and blood was drawn for vitamin D, total testosterone (TT), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), albumin, insulin, fasting plasma glucose, and total cholesterol. Free testosterone (FT) was calculated. Vitamin D data were classified by status and TT, FT, and SHBG levels were compared using the Kruskal–Wallis’s test. The associations of vitamin D levels with TT, FT, and SHBG were explored using multiple regression analysis.

Results. Vitamin D levels were sufficient in 3 (2.7%), insufficient in 17 (15.45%), and deficient in 90 (81.8%) of the sample. There were no significant differences in the mean TT (p=0.7981), FT (p=0.8768), nor SHBG (p=0.1838) across vitamin D status. Vitamin D was not associated with TT nor FT before or after adjustment for age and age plus body mass index (BMI). Vitamin D was associated with SHBG before and after the aforementioned adjustments, but this became insignificant on sensitivity analysis.

Conclusion. There is no association between vitamin D and TT, FT nor SHBG in our cohort with deficient Vit D levels.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Myrna Buenaluz-Sedurante, University of the Philippines College of Medicine, Manila

Department of Physiology

Racquel Bruno, University of the Philippines College of Medicine, Manila

Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine

Daryl Jade Dagang, University of the Philippines College of Medicine, Manila

Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine

Mark Isaiah Co, University of the Philippines College of Medicine, Manila

Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine

Michael Tee, University of the Philippines College of Medicine, Manila

Department of Physiology

References

Holick MF. Vitamin D deficiency. N Engl J Med. 2007;357(3):266–81. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17634462. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra070553.

D'Andrea S, Martorella A, Coccia F, et al. Relationship of vitamin D status with testosterone levels: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Endocrine. 2021;72(1):49-61. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32880851. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-020-02482-3.

Karagiannis A, Harsoulis F. Gonadal dysfunction in systemic diseases. Eur J Endocrinol. 2005;152(4):501–13. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15817904. https://doi.org/10.1530/eje.1.01886.

Lerchbaum E, Obermayer-Pietsch B. Vitamin D and fertility: A systematic review. Eur J Endocrinol. 2012;166(5):765-78. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22275473. https;//doi.org/10.1530/EJE-11-0984.

Blomberg Jensen M. Vitamin D and male reproduction. Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2014;10(3):175–86. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24419359. https;//doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2013.262.

Trummer C, Pilz S, Schwetz V, Obermayer-Pietsch B, Lerchbaum E. Vitamin D, PCOS and androgens in men: A systematic review. Endocr Connect. 2018;7(3):R95-113. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29449314. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5854850. https://doi.org/10.1530/EC-18-0009.

Ramlau-Hansen, CH, Moeller UK, Bonde JP, Olsen J, Thulstrup AM. Are serum levels of vitamin D associated with semen quality? Results from a cross-sectional study in young healthy men. Fertil Steril. 2011;95(3):1000–4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21122842. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2010.11.002.

Hammoud AO, Meikle AW, Peterson CM, Stanford J, Gibson M, Carrell DT. Association of 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels with semen and hormonal parameters. Asian J Androl. 2012;14(6):855–9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23042450 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3720097. https://doi.org/10.1038/aja.2012.77.

Lerchbaum E, Pilz, S, Trummer C, et al. Serum vitamin D levels and hypogonadism in men. Andrology. 2014;2(5):748-54. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25044703. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2047-2927.2014.00247.x.

Jensen MB, Lawaetz JG, Andersson AM, et al. Vitamin D deficiency and low ionized calcium are linked with semen quality and sex steroid levels in infertile men. Hum Reprod. 2016;31(8):1875-85. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27496946. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dew152.

Rudnicka A, Adoamnei E, Noguera-Velasco JA, et al. Vitamin D status is not associated with reproductive parameters in young Spanish men. Andrology. 2020;8(2):323–31. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31380611. https://doi.org/10.1111/andr.12690.

Książek A, Mędraś M, Zagrodna A, Słowińska-Lisowska M, Lwow F. Correlative studies on vitamin D and total free bioavailable testosterone levels in young, healthy men. Sci Rep. 2021;11(1):20198. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34642402. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8511022. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-99571-8.

Ceglia L, Chiu GR, Harris SS, Araujo AB. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration and physical function in adult men. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2011;74(3):370–6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21083597. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3066063. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2265.2010.03926.x.

Lee DM, Tajar A, Pye SR; for the EMAS study group. Association of hypogonadism with vitamin D status: The European male ageing study. Eur J Endocrinol. 2012;166(1):77–85. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22048968. https://doi.org/10.1530/EJE-11-0743.

Chin KY, Ima-Nirwana S, Wan Ngah WZ. Vitamin D is significantly associated with total testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin in Malaysian men. Aging Male. 2015;18(3):175-9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26004987. https://doi.org/10.3109/13685538.2015.1034686.

Sim MY, Kim SH, Kim KM. Seasonal variations and correlations between vitamin D and total testosterone levels. Korean J Fam Med. 2017;38(5):270-5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29026487. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5637218. https://doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.2017.38.5.270.

Zhao D, Ouyang P, de Boer IH, et al. Serum vitamin D and sex hormones levels in men and women: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Maturitas. 2017;96:95-102. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28041602. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5218632. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2016.11.017.

Ciccone IM, Costa EM, Pariz JR et al. Serum vitamin D content is associated with semen parameters and serum testosterone levels in men. Asian J Androl. 2021;23(1):52-8. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32341213. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7831823. https://doi.org/10.4103/aja.aja_9_20.

Nimptsch K, Platz EA, Willett WC, Giovannucci E. Association between plasma 25-OH vitamin D and testosterone levels in men. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2012;77(1):106-12. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22220644. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3712348. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2265.2012.04332.x.

Tak YJ, Lee JG, Kim YJ, et al. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and testosterone deficiency in middle aged Korean men: A cross-sectional study. Asian J Androl. 2015;17:324 e328. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25532570. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4650484 https://doi.org/10.4103/1008-682X.142137.

Wang N, Han B, Li Q, et al. Vitamin D is associated with testosterone and hypogonadism in Chinese men: Results from a cross-sectional SPECT-China study. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2015;13:74. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26177638. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4504177. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-015-0068-2.

Rafiq R, van Schoor NM, Sohl E, et al. Associations of vitamin D status and vitamin D-related polymorphisms with sex hormones in older men. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2016;164:11-7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26610790. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsbmb.2015.11.013.

Wehr E, Pilz S, Boehm BO, März W, Obermayer-Pietsch B. Association of vitamin D status with serum androgen levels in men. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2010;73(2):243-8. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20050857. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2265.2009.03777.x.

Lerchbaum, E, Obermayer-Pietsch B. Vitamin D and fertility: A systematic review. Eur J Endocrinol. 2012;166(5):765-78. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22275473. https://doi.org/10.1530/EJE-11-0984.

Trummer C, Pilz S, Schwetz V, Obermayer-Pietsch B, Lerchbaum E. Vitamin D, PCOS and androgens in men: A systematic review. Endocr Connect. 2018;7(3):R95-113. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32880851. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-020-02482-3.

D'Andrea S, Martorella A, Coccia F, et al. Relationship of vitamin D status with testosterone levels: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Endocrine. 2021;72(1):49-61. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32880851. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-020-02482-3.

Sulistyoningrum DC, Green TJ, Lear SA, Devlin AM. Ethnic-specific differences in vitamin D status is associated with adiposity. PLoS ONE. 2012; 7(8): e43159. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22952641. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3430647. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0043159.

Smith M. Seasonal, ethnic and gender variations in serum vitamin D3 levels in the local population of Peterborough. Bioscience Horizons. Int Journal of Stud Res. 2010;3(2):124-31. https://doi.org/10.1093/biohorizons/hzq016.

Buenaluz-Sedurante M, Co MIK, Dagang DJT, Bruno RG, Sarmiento AJN, Tee ML. Reference intervals of total testosterone in adult Filipino men. Int J Endocrinol. 2020;2020:8877261. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33312198. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7719543. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/8877261.

von Elm E, Altman DG, Egger M, et al. Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) Statement: Guidelines for reporting observational studies. J Clin Epidemiol. 2008;61(4):344-9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18313558. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2007.11.008.

Vermeulen A, Verdonck L, Kaufman JM. A critical evaluation of simple methods for the estimation of free testosterone in serum. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1999;84(10):3666-72. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10523012. https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem.84.10.6079.

Free and bioavailable testosterone calculator. http://www.issam.ch/freetesto.htm. Accessed October 7, 2022.

Angeles-Agdeppa I, Perlas LA, Capanzana M. Vitamin D status of Filipino adults: Evidence from the 8th National Nutrition Survey 2013. Malays J Nutr. 2018;24(3):395-406. https://nutriweb.org.my/mjn/publication/24-3/i.pdf.

Philippines. https://www.britannica.com/place/Philippines. Accessed October 7, 2022.

Hautanen A. Synthesis and regulation of sex hormone-binding globulin in obesity. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2000; 24(Suppl 2):S64-70. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10997612. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801281.

Rafiq S, Jeppesen PB. Body mass index, vitamin D, and type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. nutrients. 2018;10(9):1182. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30154381. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6164132. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10091182.

Wong KE, Kong J, Zhang W, et al. Targeted expression of human vitamin D receptor in adipocytes decreases energy expenditure and induces obesity in mice. J Biol Chem. 2011;286(39):33804-10. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21840998. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3190828. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M111.257568.

Drincic AT, Armas LA, Van Diest EE, Heaney RP. Volumetric dilution, rather than sequestration best explains the low vitamin D status of obesity. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2012;20(7):1444-8. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22262154. https://doi.org/ 10.1038/oby.2011.404.