The imbalance of sex-hormones related to depressive symptoms in obese men.
Obese men may present hypogonadothrofic hypogonadism, mainly related to higher insulinemia and aromatase activity. Our objectives were to evaluate the relationship of sex-hormones profiles and frequency of depressive symptoms in 43 obese men, in a cross-sectional study. They had 19-60 years, and body mass index 30-50 kg/m(2). LH, total and free testosterone (TT and FT), estradiol (E2), sex hormone binding globulin, estradiol/total testosterone ratio (E2/T) were analyzed. Depressive symptoms were evaluated by "beck depression inventory" (BDI), and significant depression was considered if BDI ≥ 16.Thirty-four (80%) presented low TT levels, but only 4 (14%) had low free testosterone and hypogonadism symptoms; 12 of 43 (28%) presented increased E2. Forty five (56%) presented depressive symptoms, but 16 (28% of the 45) had significant depression. BDI correlated positively with E2 (r = 0.407; p = 0.001) and E2/T (r = 0.473; p = 0.001), but not TT or FT. Patients with significant depressive showed higher levels of estradiol (136 ± 48 versus 103 ± 48 pg/ml, p = 0.02) and E2/T (16.0 ± 9.9 versus 9.8 ± 4.6; p = 0.002) (mean ± SD).In conclusion, obese men may present relatively excess of estradiol and deficiency in testosterone, leading to an imbalance between these two hormones. The greater this imbalance, the more depressive symptoms had our patients.
a Endocrinology Outpatient Clinic of Kidney and Hypertension Hospital and Endocrinology Division, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Federal University of São Paulo , São Paulo , Brazil.
Patrícia T
PT
Monteagudo
a Endocrinology Outpatient Clinic of Kidney and Hypertension Hospital and Endocrinology Division, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Federal University of São Paulo , São Paulo , Brazil.
Adriana A
AA
Falcão
a Endocrinology Outpatient Clinic of Kidney and Hypertension Hospital and Endocrinology Division, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Federal University of São Paulo , São Paulo , Brazil.
Ieda T N
IT
Verreschi
a Endocrinology Outpatient Clinic of Kidney and Hypertension Hospital and Endocrinology Division, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Federal University of São Paulo , São Paulo , Brazil.
Maria-Teresa
MT
Zanella
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol
Beck inventory; depressive symptoms; hypogonatropic hypogonadism; male obesity