As men get older there's a gradual decline in their levels of 'anabolic' hormones. Anabolic means 'tissue building', and generally refers to a trio of hormones: testosterone, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S). A recent study from Italy, reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine , has examined the blood levels of these hormones in older men, relation to their mortality rate.

Samples of blood were taken from 410 men over 65 living in the Chianti area of Italy . Their blood levels of the three hormones were determined, and the men were classified according to whether they had no, one, two, or all three hormones in the lowest 25% of the range in the whole collective. Compared with those having all three hormones in the upper ¾ of their ranges, (i.e. "normal' values), mortality during the subsequent 6 years was 1.47 times higher for having one low hormone level, 1.85 times higher for having two, and 2.29 times higher for having all three hormone levels in the lower ranges. The investigators concluded that "age-associated decline in anabolic hormone levels is a strong independent predictor of mortality in older men". And the more hormones showing lower levels, the greater the mortality rate.

For those wondering about getting tested, the 'cut-off' levels in this study of Italian men were: 70 nanograms/dL of testosterone, 63.9 nanograms/mL of IGF-1; and 50 micrograms/dL for DHEA-S. Of course, the really important question is whether hormone replacement therapy of any low hormones will restore normal mortality -and at what (health) cost? Excess hormone therapy can be dangerous - see what older women have discovered.