Associations between testosterone and metabolic syndrome in depressed and non-depressed older men and women

de Wit, Anouk E.; Giltay, Erik J.; de Boer, Marrit K.; Bosker, Fokko J.; van der Mast, Roos C.; Comijs, Hannie C.; Voshaar, Richard C. Oude; Schoevers, Robert A.

doi:10.1002/GPS.5040

Title

Associations between testosterone and metabolic syndrome in depressed and non-depressed older men and women

Author

de Wit, Anouk E.

Giltay, Erik J.

de Boer, Marrit K.

Bosker, Fokko J.

van der Mast, Roos C.

Comijs, Hannie C.

Voshaar, Richard C. Oude

Schoevers, Robert A.

Abstract

Objectives Older age and major depressive disorder (MDD) are both risk factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases. Testosterone has been associated with MDD and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in men, although associations in women are less clear. Therefore, we investigated whether testosterone is associated with MetS and whether this association is different for depressed and non-depressed older men and women. Methods In this prospective cohort study, 478 participants (349 patients with MDD and 129 controls) aged between 60 and 93 years from the Netherlands Study of Depression in Older Persons were included. Total testosterone (TT) and sex-hormone binding globulin levels were measured using a second-generation radioimmune assay. Free testosterone (FT) was calculated based on TT. MetS was defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Results A higher risk for MetS was found in men with low FT and TT (odds ratio [OR]: 0.67, 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 0.47-0.95 and OR: 0.51, 95%CI: 0.34-0.75), and in women with high FT (OR: 1.41, 95%CI: 1.08-1.82). Strong associations in the same direction were found with adiposity, glucose, and plasma lipid MetS components at baseline, but not with changes in these components at 2-year follow-up. The associations did not significantly differ between MDD patients and controls. Conclusions Independently of having MDD, low testosterone levels in men and, in contrast, high testosterone levels in women were significantly associated with MetS and its components.

Language

English

Source (journal)

International journal of geriatric psychiatry: a journal of the psychiatry of late life and allied sciences. - Chichester

Publication

Chichester : 2019

ISSN

0885-6230

DOI

10.1002/GPS.5040

Volume/pages

34 :3 (2019) , p. 463-471