Levels of a hormone produced in the testes predict age-related diseases in men.
Men who have low levels of a hormone called INSL3 are more likely to develop chronic, age-related diseases later in life, a 2021 study showed. The men also had low sex hormone production.
Researchers measured INSL3 levels in the blood of more than 3,300 men between the ages of 40 and 79 years. They collected data about the men’s overall health, sexual function, and lifestyle behaviors, such as whether they smoked or drank alcohol.
They found that having low INSL3 levels was associated with hypogonadism, a condition in which the sex organs produce little or no sex hormones. Having low INSL3 was also associated with reduced sexual function, bone mineral density, and physical activity, as well as increased occurrence of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes.
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INSL3, or insulin-like peptide 3, is produced in the Leydig cells of the testes and, to a lesser degree, the theca cells of the ovaries. Although it plays important roles in male reproductive maturation and health, evidence suggests it affects other aspects of human health, including bone and muscle physiology, brain function, and others.
These findings suggest that INSL3 is a robust biomarker of sexual function and future disease risk in men. Factors that may influence INSL3 production include childhood body mass index, prepubertal nutrition, and genetics.