Partial reversal of the hypogonadotropic hypogonadism of obese men by administration of corticosuppressive doses of dexamethasone.
Obese men have hyperestrogenemia-induced hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HHG), due, we believe, to increased rarmatization of adrenal androgens by the increased bulk of aromatase-containing adipose tissue. We studied the effects of corticosuppressive doses of dexamethasone (D) on 24-h mean plasma total and free estradiol (E2), estrone (E1), LH, FSH, total and free testosterone, delta 4-androstenedione (delta 4), and sex-hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in nine obese men and five normal-weight controls. In the obese men, the following hormones fell: E2 [59 +/- 19 to 39 +/- 11 pg/ml (P less than 0.01)], E1 [93 +/- 41 to 50 +/- 25 pg/ml; (P less than 0.01)], delta 4-androstenedione [120 +/- 80 to 55 +/- 27 ng/dl; (P less than 0.02)]; free E2 [1.6 +/- 0.4 to 1.1 +/- 0.2 pg/ml; (P less than 0.01)], SHBG [12.8 +/- 5.3 to 8.2 +/- 3 nM/l; (P less than 0.04)]. FSH rose from 4.8 +/- 3.2 to 7.6 +/- 4.2 miu/ml (P less than 0.01). LH, total and free testosterone showed no significant change. In the nonobese men, there were decreases in total E2 [(34 +/- 6.8 to 25 +/- 10 pg/ml; P less than 0.04)], SHBG [16.8 +/- 7.5 to 10.4 +/- 2.0 nM/l: P less than .05.], free E2 [0.9 +/- 0.2 to 0.7 +/- 0.3 pg/ml: P less than 0.05], delta 4 [91.4 +/- 3.6 to 33.4 +/- 16.7 ng/dl; P less than .01] and total T [492 +/- 44 to 393 +/- 121 ng/dl; P less than 0.04]. There was no significant change in E1, FSH, LH or free T.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Zumoff
B
B
Division of Endocrinology, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, New York 10003.
Strain
G W
GW
Miller
L K
LK
Rosner
W
W
Levit
C D
CD
Miller
E H
EH
Rosenfeld
R S
RS
D000328:Adult; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D004970:Estrone / Q000097:blood; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000188:drug therapy; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D004970:Estrone; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D004958:Estradiol; D003907:Dexamethasone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone