Background: Differences in circulating steroid hormone levels have been hypothesized to explain ethnic differences in steroid-related diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the serum levels of a wide panel of steroid hormones, both androgens and estrogens, in healthy middle-aged African-Caribbean and European men.
Design and methods: Serum steroid hormone levels were determined in men participating in a systematic public health study funded by the French National Health Insurance system. Blood was collected in the morning from 304 healthy African-Caribbean and European men aged between 40 and 69 years. Serum steroids were measured by mass spectrometry-gas chromatography, except for DHEAS and sex hormone-binding globulin, which were determined by RIA. Data were analyzed in 10-year age intervals by analysis of covariance, with adjustment for age, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, tobacco and alcohol consumption, and season of sampling.
Results: Compared with Europeans, African-Caribbean men presented significantly higher serum levels of measured bioavailable testosterone, 4-androstenedione (4-dione), and estrone (E1) regardless of the age group, of 5-androstenediol (5-diol) in those aged 40-49 and 50-59 years, and of testosterone (TT) and dihydrotestosterone in those aged 40-49 years. In contrast, European men aged 40-69 years showed significantly higher serum levels of DHEA and DHEAS.
Conclusions: Significant differences in serum steroid hormone levels were observed in middle-aged African-Caribbean and European men. Whether such differences could contribute to ethnic differences in disease risk in adult men remains to be investigated. Some steroids, such as bioavailable TT, 4-dione, 5-diol, and E1, deserve particular attention.