Male aging: hormonal profiles in serum and urine among patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia versus healthy men

The development of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is undoubtedly related to male aging. However, data on the hormonal profile in aging men with prostate pathologies are ambiguous. The aim of this study was to compare the serum levels of selected hormones and the 24-h urine excretion of androgen steroids in 24 patients with BPH aged 62–86 (mean age 70.5 years) with those in 15 healthy men aged 38–70 (mean age 56.6 years). The quantities of testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), androsterone and etiocholanolone in 24-h urine samples were assessed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Serum samples were assayed for estradiol, total and free testosterone levels (using radioimmunoassay), and for sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and prolactin levels (using immunoradiometric assay (IRMA)). Free androgen index (FAI), the serum testosterone/estradiol ratio and the urine androsterone/etiocholanolone ratio were calculated. The intergroup d...