Genetic analyses implicate complex links between adult testosterone levels and health and disease.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Testosterone levels are linked with diverse characteristics of human health, yet, whether these associations reflect correlation or causation remains debated. Here, we provide a broad perspective on the role of genetically determined testosterone on complex diseases in both sexes.

Methods

Leveraging genetic and health registry data from the UK Biobank and FinnGen (total N = 625,650), we constructed polygenic scores (PGS) for total testosterone, sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and free testosterone, associating these with 36 endpoints across different disease categories in the FinnGen. These analyses were combined with Mendelian Randomization (MR) and cross-sex PGS analyses to address causality.

Results

We show testosterone and SHBG levels are intricatel

SUBMITTER: Leinonen JT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9849476 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature