title: Low plasma zinc and androgen in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
abstract: Plasma zinc and pituitary and testicular hormone concentrations were measured in two groups of male adolescents. One group comprised insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients, aged 14-19 years; the other, as control, included 12 healthy youngsters aged 13-19 years. Plasma concentration of zinc, prolactin, testosterone, and dihydrotestosterone were lower in diabetics than in controls, whereas the ratios of androstenedione and androstenedione to testosterone + dihydrotestosterone were higher. Plasma FSH and LH were normal. These results suggest a diminished conversion of androstenedione to testosterone and relate zinc with the 17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzyme activity.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood*; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000097:blood; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D010907:Pituitary Hormones; D013196:Dihydrotestosterone; D013739:Testosterone; D011388:Prolactin; D015032:Zinc