Biomarkers · Vitamins & Endocrine

Total Testosterone

Higher values go with lower risk of death. Not measured in our NHANES panel. The curve is drawn from the published study (source below).

Total Testosterone and risk of death

Published curve higher than the NHANES fitNHANES fit higher

Risk of death relative to the curve's reference value, drawn from the published study (source below).

Published risk of death0.89×top vs bottom tertile of total testosterone, men (95% CI 0.83–0.97) · Meta-analysis of population-based cohorts (53 publications, 359,047 participants); TT estimate from 19 studies in men

Total Testosterone by age and sex

Each bar runs from the 5th to the 95th percentile, the darker part from the 25th to the 75th, and the tick is the median. Not a reference range or a target.

The percentiles as a table

Each row is one sex and age band: the values below which 5%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 95% of people fall (ng/dL), from the survey named in the row. Not a reference range or a target.
Sex	Age	5th	25th	Median	75th	95th	n	Cycle / source
All	20-39	13.7	25.2	176	427	720	1,673	NHANES 2015-2016
All	40-59	9.91	17.8	123	374	648	1,700	NHANES 2015-2016
All	60+	6.99	15.5	36.9	358	653	1,701	NHANES 2015-2016
All	all	9.64	19.6	63.8	391	674	5,074	NHANES 2015-2016
Men	20-39	204	311	422	550	794	826	NHANES 2015-2016
Men	40-59	185	289	376	505	764	795	NHANES 2015-2016
Men	60+	158	285	382	516	770	846	NHANES 2015-2016
Men	all	182	296	394	521	783	2,467	NHANES 2015-2016
Women	20-39	11.1	18.8	24.9	33.6	52.7	847	NHANES 2015-2016
Women	40-59	8.21	12.9	17.9	24.2	43.6	905	NHANES 2015-2016
Women	60+	5.98	11.0	16.6	23.9	44.5	855	NHANES 2015-2016
Women	all	7.72	13.7	19.9	27.7	48.8	2,607	NHANES 2015-2016

What studies found when this marker was changed

They describe what happened in those study groups, not a recommendation. See all catalogued interventions.

Measured changes in Total Testosterone, study by study

2 effects with a numeric size, each from one study arm: the dot is the reported change, the line its 95% interval where one was given. Green points move the marker the way lower risk of death lies; amber the other way. Study results in the groups studied, not predictions for a person.

Each row is one study: what was changed, the effect it reported on this marker, and the source.
Type	Intervention	Reported effect	Evidence	Source
nutraceutical	Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) root extract 300 mg twice daily for 8 weeks alongside resistance training in young men	Testosterone increase 96.2 ng/dL (95% CI 54.7-137.5) vs 18.0 ng/dL (95% CI -15.8 to 51.8) with placebo over 8 weeks (p=0.004)	RCT	Wankhede S, et al. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2015. Examining the effect of…

Things that worsen it

Each row is one study: what was changed, the effect it reported on this marker, and the source.
Type	Condition or exposure	Reported effect	Evidence	Source
diet	Three weeks of caloric restriction at 50% of energy needs in healthy non-obese men	Plasma testosterone -11% after 3 weeks of 50% caloric restriction (weight -6.0 kg)	non-randomised trial	Müller MJ, et al. The American journal of clinical nutrition. 2015. Metabolic…

Sources

Risk curve: Raeisi-Dehkordi H 2025 (PMID 40333346): all-cause HR 0.89 (0.83-0.97) top vs bottom tertile of total testosterone, men. Scaled to US values (NHANES).
Raeisi-Dehkordi H, Amiri M, Beigrezaei S, Quezada-Pinedo HG, Khatami F, Alijla F, Steur M, Chatelan A, Voortman T, van der Schouw YT, Franco OH, Muka T. Endogenous Sex Steroid Hormones, Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin, and Risk of All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2025;110(9):e3131-e3149.

Map Total Testosterone against another biomarker.

Map Total Testosterone against another marker