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Reduced testosterone and adrenal C19 steroid levels in obese men
A Tchernof1, J P Després, A Bélanger
1Lipid Research Center, Laval University Medical Research Center, Laval University, Ste-Foy, Québec, Canada.
Metabolism: Clinical and Experimental
|April 1, 1995
Summary
Abdominal obesity in men is linked to lower testosterone and adrenal steroid levels. Adiposity variations are explained by these hormones, with dehydroepiandrosterone precursor being the strongest correlate.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Andrology
- Obesity Research
Background:
- High abdominal fat is linked to increased androgens in women.
- Abdominal obesity in men is less studied but may correlate with low testosterone (T).
- Understanding the relationship between body fat, steroid hormones, and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in men is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate correlations between body fatness, adipose tissue (AT) distribution, and circulating steroid levels in men.
- To assess the relationship between testosterone, adrenal C19 steroids, SHBG, and adiposity measures.
Main Methods:
- Studied 80 men (mean age 36.3 years).
- Measured body fatness, AT distribution via computed tomography (CT).
- Quantified serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), androstenedione, androst-5-ene-3 beta,17 beta-diol (delta 5-DIOL), T, estrone, estradiol, and SHBG using radioimmunoassay.
Main Results:
- Testosterone (T), adrenal C19 steroids, and SHBG negatively correlated with body fatness and abdominal AT (CT measurements).
- Estrone positively correlated with body fatness and AT distribution.
- After controlling for delta 5-DIOL, no residual association between T and adiposity was found.
- Multivariate analyses indicated steroids and SHBG explained 20-42% of adiposity variation (BMI, waist circumference, WHR).
- Delta 5-DIOL was the strongest single correlate of body fatness and abdominal fat deposition.
Conclusions:
- Adiposity in men is associated with altered levels of sex and adrenal steroids, and SHBG.
- The relationship between T and adiposity appears mediated by precursors like delta 5-DIOL.
- Steroid hormone profiles, particularly delta 5-DIOL, are significant correlates of body fat distribution in men.
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