Serum Testosterone Levels in Statin Therapy for Patients with Diabetes and Hypertension

Hypogonadism in males is a state that needs therapeutic attention and intervention considering that it is associated with aging, diabetes mellitus, and statin therapy. The study was carried out to determine the levels of serum testosterone in subjects treated with statins. Subjects undergoing statin therapy were grouped into two categories: those receiving statins for less than one year and those treated with statins for more than one year. The average age of subjects was (45 ± 8.5.) Subjects with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol amount in the blood serum higher than 190mg/dL were included in a group of hypercholesterolemic adults. They received statins (atorvastatin, 40mg/day). Diabetic patients were either diagnosed according to appropriate criteria or those who were already on medications. Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) for the in vitro quantitative determination of testosterone in human serum and plasma with a Cobas e411 analyzer were used. It has been shown that serum testosterone level in subjects that received statins was significantly reduced compared to that in control subjects, as well as in diabetic ones. The level of serum testosterone did not depend on the presence of hypertension or diabetes combined with hypertension.