Testosterone, diabetes mellitus, and the metabolic syndrome.
Metabolic syndrome is characterized by insulin insensitivity, central obesity dyslipidemia, and hypertension. It is recognized as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in men; by the time metabolic syndrome is diagnosed, however, most men already have entrenched cardiovascular disease. A reliable early warning sign is needed to alert physicians to those at risk for metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. Low serum testosterone level has emerged as a reliable prognosticator of metabolic syndrome in men whose testosterone deficiency is genetic (Klinefelter syndrome), iatrogenic following surgery for testicular cancer, pharmacologically induced by gonadotropin-releasing hormone during prostate cancer treatment, or a natural consequence of aging. One third of men with type 2 diabetes mellitus are now recognized as testosterone deficient. Emerging evidence suggests that testosterone therapy may be able to reverse some aspects of metabolic syndrome.
Spark
Richard F
RF
Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Hospital, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA. rspark@bidmc.harvard.edu
D015897:Comorbidity; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D013739:Testosterone