Original Article

Testosterone concentrations in young pubertal and post-pubertal obese males

  1. Muniza Mogri1,
  2. Sandeep Dhindsa2,
  3. Teresa Quattrin1,
  4. Husam Ghanim2,
  5. Paresh Dandona2,*

Article first published online: 12 MAR 2013

DOI: 10.1111/cen.12018

Issue

Clinical Endocrinology

Clinical Endocrinology

Volume 78, Issue 4, pages 593–599, April 2013

Additional Information

How to Cite

Mogri, M., Dhindsa, S., Quattrin, T., Ghanim, H. and Dandona, P. (2013), Testosterone concentrations in young pubertal and post-pubertal obese males. Clinical Endocrinology, 78: 593–599. doi: 10.1111/cen.12018

Author Information

  1. 1

    Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA

  2. 2

    Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA

* Correspondence: Paresh Dandona, Diabetes Endocrinology Center of Western New York, 115 Flint Road, Williamsville, NY, 14221, USA.
E-mail: pdandona@kaleidahealth.org

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 12 MAR 2013
  2. Article first published online: 12 MAR 2013
  3. Accepted manuscript online: 13 SEP 2012 05:20AM EST
  4. Manuscript Accepted: 13 AUG 2012
  5. Manuscript Revised: 6 AUG 2012
  6. Manuscript Revised: 26 JUN 2012
  7. Manuscript Received: 12 JUN 2012

Funded by

  • NIH. Grant Number: R01 DK075877-01A2
  • American Diabetes Association. Grant Number: 708CR13
  • Sanofi-Aventis, Merck, Amylin
  • Abbott Laboratories
  • American Diabetes Association. Grant Number: 1 10 JF 13

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (130K)

Abstract

Objective

Obesity in adult males is associated with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. We evaluated the effect of obesity on plasma testosterone concentrations in pubertal and post-pubertal young males.

Design and methods

Morning fasting blood samples were obtained from 25 obese [body mass index (BMI) ≥95th percentile] and 25 lean (BMI <85th percentile) males between the ages 14–20 years with Tanner staging ≥4. Total (TT) and free testosterone (FT) and estradiol concentrations were measured by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and equilibrium dialysis. Free testosterone was also calculated using SHBG and albumin. C-reactive protein (CRP), insulin and glucose concentrations were measured and homoeostasis model of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated.

Results

After controlling for age and Tanner staging, obese males had a significantly lower total testosterone (10·5 vs 21·44 nmol/l), free testosterone (0·22 vs 0·39 nmol/l) and calculated free testosterone (0·26 vs 0·44 nmol/l) concentrations as compared to lean males (P < 0·001 for all). Obese males had higher CRP concentrations (2·8 vs 0·8 mg/l; P < 0·001), and HOMA-IR (3·8 vs 1·1; P < 0·001) than lean males. Free testosterone concentrations were positively related to age and negatively to BMI, HOMA-IR and CRP concentrations. Total and free estradiol concentrations were significantly lower in males with subnormal testosterone concentrations.

Conclusion

Testosterone concentrations of young obese pubertal and post-pubertal males are 40–50% lower than those with normal BMI. Obesity in young males is associated with low testosterone concentrations, which are not secondary to an increase in estradiol concentrations. Our results need to be confirmed in a larger number of subjects.

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (130K)