Urolithiasis is associated with low serum testosterone levels in men

Abstract

We found low testosterone levels in the patients with stone disease and prevalence of the MetS in men with urolithiasis was higher than in men without stone disease. Our findings show that levels of testosterone had no effect on stone formation, but the factors that cause stone formation can have an effect on the level of testosterone.

Possible role of elevated serum testosterone in pathogenesis of renal stone formation

“…This is again consistent with the findings that stone forming men excrete more calcium and oxalate (two important promoters of lithogenesis), while less citrate (an important inhibitor of lithogenesis) than women. [1920] In one study, the low serum testosterone was observed in urolithiatic patients with metabolic syndrome,[11] but in this study, the urolithiatic patient with metabolic syndrome were excluded, so giving birth to hypothesis that metabolic syndrome along with urolithiasis may lead to lowering of serum testosterone levels. Similarly in another study, although no significant difference was found between serum levels of testosterone between the active stone formers (ASF) and control groups, serum testosterone was related to higher urinary excretion of uric acid in ASF patients and to higher urinary excretion of oxalate in the control group raising the possibility that testosterone may be involved in the pathogenesis of renal stones through higher urinary uric acid and oxalate.…”

“…in 2010 also reported higher serum total testosterone levels in male stone formers compared with a similar cohort without stones indicating that testosterone may be a risk factor for stone formation. [10] Although one study proposed that urolithiasis is associated with low serum testosterone levels in men,[11] the possibility of testosterone involvement in the pathogenesis of renal stones cannot be denied.…”

Sex Steroid Hormone Levels May Not Explain Gender Differences in Development of Nephrolithiasis

“…Additional studies have identified a significant link between testosterone levels and urolithiasis. 12,13 Li et al investigated the relationship of renal stones with plasma free and total testosterone as well as the presence of upregulated androgen receptors on biopsy of renal tissue among 68 Chinese men. 12 Their study included men 22-39 years of age with stones who underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) with an associated renal biopsy, and compared serum hormone levels with healthy controls of similar age, as well as compared biopsy specimens obtained at the time of PCNL with autopsy specimens of previously healthy patients of similar age to assess for upregulation of androgen receptors.…”

“…To date, a small number of studies have explored the impact of testosterone on stones, with limited number of patients. [9][10][11][12][13] The objective of our study, therefore, was to determine whether baseline serum sex steroid hormone levels or subsequent change in those levels represents a risk factor for the development of nephrolithiasis in men.…”

Re: The association of urolithiasis and androgenetic alopecia. Resorlu M, Sancak EB, Uysal F, Arslan M, Diri A, Adam G, Akbas A, Sariyildirim A, Gulpinar MT, Resorlu B. Ren Fail. 2015 Oct 13:1–5

“…While in some studies urolithiasis is associated with higher serum testosterone levels, we have shown opposite relation. 4,5 Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common form of alopecia, affecting up to 80% of men and 50% of women in the course of their life. AGA is caused by a progressive reduction in the diameter, length, and pigmentation of the hair.…”