Free testosterone plasma levels are negatively associated with the intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery in overweight and obese glucose-tolerant young adult men.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relation between free testosterone (FT) levels and the intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery (IMT-CCA) in overweight and obese glucose-tolerant (NGT) young adult men.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study of FT and IMT-CCA in obese men.


METHODS
A total of 127 overweight and obese NGT male individuals, aged 18-45 y.


METHODS
FT plasma levels; IMT-CCA, as measured by high-resolution B-mode ultrasound imaging; central fat accumulation, as evaluated by waist circumference; body composition, as measured by bioimpedance analysis; insulin resistance, as calculated by homeostatic model assessment (HOMA(IR)); systolic and diastolic blood pressure; and fasting concentrations of glucose, insulin, and lipids.


RESULTS
IMT-CCA was positively correlated with age, body mass index (BMI), fat mass (FM), waist circumference, and fasting glucose concentrations, and inversely associated with FT levels. After multivariate analysis, IMT-CCA maintained an independent association with BMI, FM, and FT levels. This study indicates that IMT-CCA is negatively associated with FT levels, independent of age, total body fat, central fat accumulation, and fasting glucose concentrations in overweight and obese NGT patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Hypotestosteronemia may accelerate the development of atherosclerosis and increase the risk for CHD in obese men.
De Pergola
G
G
Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, and Metabolic Diseases, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari, Bari, Italy. g.depergola@endo.uniba.it
Pannacciulli
N
N
Ciccone
M
M
Tartagni
M
M
Rizzon
P
P
Giorgino
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000473:pathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D013739:Testosterone