Free Testosterone

Dicken Weatherby, N.D.

Free Testosterone

Factors That Affect

Testosterone Levels
ƒ Estrogen and

ƒ Increased aromatase levels

ƒ Obesity

ƒ Increased Sex Hormone Binding Globulin

(SHBG) production

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Free Testosterone
Dicken Weatherby, N.D.

Low Testosterone Levels in Men

ƒ Diminished libido and erectile dysfunction

ƒ Metabolic syndrome: Loss of muscle tone
and increased abdominal fat
ƒ Low bone density
ƒ Depression
ƒ Alzheimer’s disease

Low Male Hormone Levels

Increase Risk of Early Death
“Relationship between low levels of analbolic
hormones and 6-year mortality in older men:
the aging in the Chianti are (InCHIANTI) study”
Maggio M, Laurenti F, Ceda GP, et al. Arch Intern
Med. 2007 November 12:167(20):2249-54

Conclusion:
ƒ “Having multiple hormone deficiencies rather
than a deficiency in a single anabolkic hormone
is a robust biomarker of health status in older
persons.”

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Free Testosterone
Dicken Weatherby, N.D.

Low testosterone as a major

cardiac risk factor
ƒ Age, HDL levels, and free testosterone
ƒ Increased risk of stroke
ƒ Heart failure
ƒ Increased glycation
ƒ Testosterone- an increased risk of
prostate cancer?

Importance of testosterone in
Women
ƒ Muscle strength
ƒ Bone mass
ƒ Sexual function
ƒ Mood
ƒ Body composition

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Free Testosterone
Dicken Weatherby, N.D.

Measuring Free
Testosterone

Free Testosterone-
Labcorp Reference Ranges
ƒ “Normal” reference range intervals for men:
‰20 - 29 years old 9.3 - 26.5 pg/ml
‰30 - 39 years old 8.7 - 25.1 pg/ml
‰40 - 49 years old 6.8 - 21.5 pg/ml
‰50 - 59 years old 7.2 - 24.0 pg/ml
‰60+ years old 6.6 - 18.1 pg/ml
Women: 0 – 2.2 pg/ml
ƒ Optimal reference range:
‰Men: 15 – 26.5 pg/mL
‰Women: 1.4 – 2.2 pg/mL

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Free Testosterone
Dicken Weatherby, N.D.

Free Testosterone-
Quest Reference Ranges
ƒ “Normal” reference range intervals for
men:
‰20 – 60+ years old 50 - 210 pg/ml

ƒ Optimal reference range:

‰Men: 150 – 210 pg/mL

The Different Analytical Methods

Male Ref. Range Test Type

66 – 417 ng/dL FWRA

12.3 – 63% %FWRA

5 – 21 ng/dL UF or ETD

50 – 210 pg/mL UF or ETD

1.0 – 2.7% % of free by UF or ETD

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Free Testosterone
Dicken Weatherby, N.D.

What about total testosterone?

ƒ Normal reference ranges: 241 – 827
nanograms/dl

ƒ Optimal levels: 500 – 827 nanograms/dl

ƒ <500 nanograms/dl order free testosterone

by Direct RIA method.

5 Reasons Free Testosterone

May Be Low Normal
1. Too much testosterone being converted
to estradiol
2. Too much free testosterone bound to
SHBG
3. Low LH secretion from pituitary
4. Low output from testes
5. Inadequate amounts of DHEA

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