Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Obesity epidemic has a considerable effect on the health of the population. Obesity is connected with infertility and hypogonadism. It is known that obese men have a low testosterone and higher estradiol level. The assumed mechanism would be increased testosterone aromatization in adipose tissue and a lower SHBG level, which means a decrease of overall testosterone. The aim of this study was to describe the changes of steroidogenesis with obese men.

Methods: We examined a set of 195 men and determined their testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), SHBG, androstendion (A2), DHEA, DHEAS, 17-hydroxyprogesterone (Prog17), 17-hydroxypregnenolone (Preg17), the Prog17/Preg17, A2/DHEA, DHEA/Preg17, A2/Prog17, DHEA/DHEAS, T/A2 and DHT/T ratios were analysed. The set of men was divided into two groups in accordance with the BMI level.

Results: With BMI over 30 men a higher activity of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and lower activity of sulfatase have been proved. The preferred way of steroid production with obese men is thus Δ-4 way. With men the Δ-5 way is typical, on the contrary the Δ-4 way is typical with women.

Conclusion: We have proved a steroidogenesis shift with obese men that accounts for the T and E₂ level change typical with obese men.

Acknowledgement: Supported by IGA MZČR 12340-5, 13890, GAUK 367511 grant.