Androstenedione
Median androstenedione falls with age in both sexes, from 84.9 ng/dL at ages 20-29 to 53.9 ng/dL at 70 and over in males, and from 122 ng/dL to 40.8 ng/dL in females.
Unit: ng/dL · 12 groups · age and sex · 1 source
Androstenedione by age and sex
| Age (years) | Males (ng/dL) | Females (ng/dL) |
|---|---|---|
| 20-29 | median 84.9 middle 90% 38.9 to 176.7 | median 122 middle 90% 60.4 to 239 |
| 30-39 | median 73.8 middle 90% 40.7 to 144.7 | median 108 middle 90% 45.5 to 203.6 |
| 40-49 | median 67.6 middle 90% 38.2 to 141 | median 75.2 middle 90% 32.6 to 173 |
| 50-59 | median 63.1 middle 90% 32.8 to 128.1 | median 51.7 middle 90% 20.9 to 111.6 |
| 60-69 | median 59.8 middle 90% 29.9 to 137.4 | median 45.9 middle 90% 18.6 to 117 |
| 70+ | median 53.9 middle 90% 25 to 121.9 | median 40.8 middle 90% 12.6 to 97.9 |
Download Androstenedione percentiles (CSV) Values at full stored precision; tables on this site may round for display. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Population Distribution
Androstenedione is an androgen precursor measured here in ng/dL from the NHANES sex steroid hormone panel. It is produced by the adrenal glands and gonads and serves as an intermediate in the synthesis of testosterone and estrogens. Levels vary by sex and tend to decline with age. The population distribution is broad and reflects adrenal and gonadal contributions across the sampled group.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is androstenedione?
It is a steroid hormone that sits upstream of testosterone and estrogen in the synthesis pathway. The adrenal glands and gonads both produce it, and it is converted into more potent sex steroids in various tissues.
Why does androstenedione differ by sex and age?
Both adrenal and gonadal production contribute, and these differ between males and females and decline with age. The combined effect produces sex- and age-related differences in the population distribution.
How does NHANES handle hormone values below the detection limit?
When a result falls below the assay's lower limit of detection, NHANES replaces it with the detection limit divided by the square root of 2. In groups where many people have low concentrations, the lower percentiles can reflect this imputation rather than distinct measured values.
Data Sources
Cite this data
LabNorms. Androstenedione population percentiles by age and sex. Data: NHANES 2017-March 2020 Pre-Pandemic Sex Steroid Hormone Panel. https://labnorms.com/analytes/androstenedione/. Licensed under CC BY 4.0. Accessed [date].
Download Androstenedione percentiles (CSV) Values at full stored precision; tables on this site may round for display. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.