Endocrine Abstracts

Aim: The present study aimed to compare the androgen levels in men with obesity, metabolic syndrome /MS/ and healthy normal – weight controls.

Materials and methods: Eighty-six males (mean age 29.65±8.57 /18–50/) were investigated. 31 of them were healthy (mean BMI – 23.66±1.97); 22 were with simple obesity (mean BMI – 32.79±7.16) and 33 (mean BMI – 35.78±8.71) were with overt metabolic syndrome /MS/ according to the IDF definition. The levels of the sex-hormone binding globulin /SHBG/, total /TT/ and free testosterone /FT/ were determined.

Results: The mean levels of the TT were lowest in the group with metabolic syndrome (16.34±7.36 nmol/l) and highest among healthy non-obese men (30.08±10.96 nmol/l). The mean androgen levels of the obese males (21.27±6.89 nmol/l) were significantly higher than in the MS group but significantly lower than in the healthy controls. The concentrations of the FT in the groups with obesity (0.50±0.18 nmol/l) and MS (0.46±0.20 nmol/l) were not significantly different. However, they both were lower in comparison to the levels in healthy men (0.69±0.27 nmol/l). The SHBG concentrations were lowest in the male with MS (20.74±12.94 nmol/l vs. 31.31±17.40 nmol/l in obese male and 36.84±16.25 nmol/l in controls).

Conclusion: In young males with obesity and MS the serum levels of androgens decrease. Probably, the reduction of the SHBG in patients with MS limits further decrease of the free testosterone, but it is also related to negative metabolic consequences. Further investigations are needed to clarify the possible mechanisms.