Review Article
The Role of the Multiple Hormonal Dysregulation in the Onset of “Anemia of Aging”: Focus on Testosterone, IGF-1, and Thyroid Hormones
Table 1
Observational and intervention studies testing the relationship between testosterone and hemoglobin and anemia.
| | Author reference | Year | Type of survey | Population | Dose/follow-up | Results |
| | Observational | | Waalen et al. [70] | 2011 | Case-control | 72 m 80 w
>65 y
UA | — | Lower T levels in the UA group compared with nonanemic controls | |
Dhindsa et al. [71] |
2004 | Cross-sectional | 492 m
30–94 y | — | Both total and free T were positively associated with Hb levels | | Ferrucci et al. [27] | 2006 | Cross-sectional | 396 m 509 w
>65 y | — | Total and bioavailable T levels were linearly correlated with Hb concentration and risk of anemia | |
Ellegala et al. [72] |
2003 | Cross-sectional | 464 m
mean age 64 y
DM | — | Low total and free T levels were independently associated with reduced Hb levels in DM men | |
Saylor and Smith [73] |
2010 | Cross-sectional | 70 m
24–78 y
DM | — | Free T levels were positively associated with hematocrit and negatively associated with CRP levels | | Ferrucci et al. [27] | 2006 | Longitudinal | 274 m 337 w
>65 y | 3 y | Nonanemic subjects in the lowest quartile (low total and bioavailable T levels had a higher risk of anemia) |
| | Intervention | | Morley et al. [74] | 1993 | Case-control study | 8 m
mean age 76 y | TE 200 mg/mL im/2 wk
3 months | T therapy increases hematocrit | |
Jockenhövel et al. [75] | 1997 | Double-blind RCT | 15 m
51–79 y | TC 200 mg im/2 wk
12 months | T therapy
increases Hb concentration | |
Sih et al. [76] |
1997 | No RCT | 18 m
22–78 y | T patch
6 mg/day
3 y | T therapy
increases Hb levels and hematocrit | |
Snyder et al. [77] |
2000 | Double-blind RCT | 406 m
20–80 y | T gel 50–100 mg/day
patch 24,4 mg/day
90 days | Both T preparations
increase Hb and hematocrit values compared to placebo | |
Alexanian [78] |
1966 | Double-blind RCT | 39 m
40–77 y | T patch
5 mg/day
6 months | T therapy
increases Hb but not hematocrit | |
Merza et al. [79] |
2006 | Double-blind RCT | 61 m
18–35 y
60 m
60–75 y | Injection leuprolide depot 7.5 mg/month
TE 25-50-125-300-600 mg/week
20 weeks | Hemoglobin and hematocrit increased in response to graded doses of T, greater in older than young men |
|
|
UA: unexplained anemia
DM: type 2 diabetes
CRP: C-reactive protein
TE: testosterone enanthate
IM: intramuscular injection.
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