AIMTo examine the inter-relationships among age, lifestyle factors, anthropometric parameters, percent body fat and steroid hormone parameters in 531 healthy Singaporean Chinese men aged between 29 and 72 years old.

METHODSVarious lifestyle parameters were quantified through a survey, and testosterone (T), estradiol (E2), dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) were measured using established methods. Anthropometric parameters were collected and computed, and percent body fat (Siri) was measured using the DEXA scanner.

RESULTSSHBG, DHEAS, bioavailable-T (Bio-T), E2, Siri, Ht, W/H, W/Ht and work stress were independently correlated with age. Using multivariate analyses and adjusting for age and other related factors, exercise, smoking and alcohol consumption have positive impacts on androgen levels and body composition. However, black and green tea consumption was associated with negative effects on body composition and with higher levels of E2 and Free Estradiol Index (FEI). Men with shorter sleep duration had significantly lower T levels as compared to those with 6 h or more of nightly sleep. Higher T levels were associated with lower levels of adiposity and other indices of adiposity, whereas higher E2 levels were related to higher levels of adiposity. Men with higher DHEAS were significantly taller and heavier than those with low DHEAS levels.

CONCLUSIONThe study showed the close interactions among the gonadal/adrenal and metabolic compartments, with age being a key determinant in their interactions. Lifestyle factors such as exercise, smoking, sleeping and alcohol and tea consumption might play significantly roles in determining the status of health in men.

Adipose Tissue ; anatomy & histology ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Body Weight ; Dehydroepiandrosterone ; blood ; Demography ; Estradiol ; blood ; Hormones ; blood ; Humans ; Life Style ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oxygen Consumption ; Physical Fitness ; Reference Values ; Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin ; metabolism ; Singapore ; Stress, Physiological ; physiopathology ; Testosterone ; blood ; Walking

AIMTo evaluate the impact of age and gender on lipid and lipoprotein profiles and the burden of dyslipidemia in a cohort of healthy Chinese Singaporean.

METHODSA total of 1 775 healthy Chinese, 536 men and 1 239 women aged between 30 and 70 years old were involved in the present study.

RESULTSGender differences in all lipid and lipoprotein levels were clearly evident. Singaporean Chinese men have significantly higher levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and total cholesterol/high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (TC/HDL-C), and lower levels of HDL-C than women. Although lipid and lipoprotein levels in men did not change in the different age groups, those in women, especially TC, LDL-C and TC/HDL-C, were significantly higher in older women (> 50 years old) than corresponding levels in younger women (30-46 years old). Furthermore, TG was significantly correlated with lipids and lipoproteins differently in men and women. If 100 mg/dL of LDL-C were to be adopted as the therapeutic cut-off level, then the burden of care will be huge as approximately 90% of both Chinese men and women have LDL-C greater than 100 mg/dL.

CONCLUSIONIn light of the findings of the present study, we suggest that preventive measures to promote the reduction in risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) must address the high proportion of men and women with high LDL-C, and that these measures should take into account both the gender and age factors. For men, reduction of high cholesterol must start early in life, whereas for women, steps must be taken earlier to mitigate the anticipated sharp increase in risk, especially after menopause.

Adult ; Aged ; Aging ; blood ; ethnology ; genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; ethnology ; genetics ; China ; ethnology ; Cholesterol ; blood ; genetics ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; genetics ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; genetics ; Cohort Studies ; Coronary Disease ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Lipids ; blood ; genetics ; Lipoproteins ; blood ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Sex Characteristics ; Singapore