Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the longitudinal association between CRP and testosterone concentrations. In addition, recent clinical studies have suggested a bidirectional association between concentrations of cytokines stimulated by obesity and testosterone (8). Biochemical hypogonadism was defined as total testosterone levels Rotter I, Ciosek Ż, Syroka A and Ryl A (2025) A cross-sectional study of testosterone deficiency and inflammatory markers in older men. Their results did not reveal any significant association between endogenous testosterone and systemic inflammation markers, including hsCRP. A further prospective study identified a connection between elevated hsCRP levels and reduced concentrations of bioavailable testosterone in both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. Therefore, future studies should incorporate a broader panel of inflammatory markers to more accurately characterize the immunometabolic alterations underlying the pathophysiology of obesity-induced testosterone deficiency. If you adjust training volume, change your sleep routine, or shift your diet, these markers often respond within weeks to months. A single read gives you a baseline; a few data points show a trend. Together, these markers separate "cholesterol load" from "artery irritation," which guides smarter prevention conversations. ApoB reflects the number of atherogenic particles; hs‑CRP captures the inflammatory milieu in which those particles interact with artery walls. Low LH and FSH with low testosterone point toward central suppression; high LH and FSH suggest the gonads aren’t responding. To interpret testosterone intelligently, look at SHBG, LH, FSH, and estradiol. Free testosterone can be directly measured by equilibrium dialysis or estimated by calculation using SHBG and albumin. Testosterone regulates cytokine expression through androgen receptors, modulating the inflammatory response (10). A decline in testosterone secretion significantly contributes to changes in the body composition of aging males (6), marked by a decrease in fat-free mass and an increase in fat mass. In particular, cytokines such as IL-6, TNF-α, and adipokines like leptin could provide additional mechanistic insights and better reflect tissue-specific inflammatory processes. This enzymatic transformation inhibits the hypothalamic–pituitary axis, thereby diminishing testosterone synthesis (3). Serum concentrations of testosterone and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured at both visits. It is still unknown what role inflammation plays in the secretion of testosterone in men. Therefore, promoting a healthy lifestyle, regular physical activity, and a balanced diet appears essential for reducing systemic inflammation. At both baseline and follow-up analyses of the participants, testosterone samples were 95.3% successful. We found that the new method gave 11% higher results compared to the method used at baseline, and this increase was similar for every age group. As measurement techniques changed during follow-up time, we compared similar age groups at both baseline and follow-up in order to estimate the change in concentration due to method change. Trained study nurses collected information regarding history of chronic diseases and medication as well as performed anthropometric and blood pressure measurements. An inverse association was observed, in both bivariate and multivariate analyses, between CRP and total testosterone, free testosterone, and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels. Further studies are needed to confirm the longitudinal association between CRP and androgen levels, adjusting for different confounding cytokines and underlying mechanisms to better understand the possible impact of inflammation on sexual hormonal secretion and male health. Other cross-sectional studies suggest that obesity largely could explain in most part the association between inflammatory markers and testosterone levels (27, 28, 29, 30, 31). High testosterone can be expected with exogenous use or certain medications. That’s why people feel flat during infections and why chronic inflammatory states often come with lower anabolic tone. High-intensity workouts can bump CRP for a day, but consistent training tends to lower baseline levels over time.
