The hypogonadal-obesity cycle: role of aromatase in modulating the testosterone-estradiol shunt--a major factor in the genesis of morbid obesity
- PMID: 10342671
- DOI: 10.1054/mehy.1997.0624
The hypogonadal-obesity cycle: role of aromatase in modulating the testosterone-estradiol shunt--a major factor in the genesis of morbid obesity
Abstract
Massive obesity in males is associated with decreased total and free testosterone levels as well as elevated estradiol levels. The decrease in testosterone occurs without the compensatory increases in gonadotropin and a progressive hypogonadotropic hypogonadal cycle develops. During the hypogonadal state, there is a preferential deposition of abdominal adipose tissue. With the increasing fatty-tissue accumulation, there is an increase of aromatase activity that is associated with a greater conversion of testosterone to estradiol (testosterone-estradiol shunt). This results in further depression of testosterone concentrations and leads to the increased preferential deposition of abdominal fat that, in turn, leads to a progressive hypogonadal state. Testalactone, an aromatase inhibitor, interrupts this cycle and repairs the depressed testosterone concentrations and decreases estradiol levels. This increases the testosterone levels and reverses the preferential deposition of abdominal fat, while increasing muscle protein and fat-free mass.
Similar articles
-
Aromatase, adiposity, aging and disease. The hypogonadal-metabolic-atherogenic-disease and aging connection.Med Hypotheses. 2001 Jun;56(6):702-8. doi: 10.1054/mehy.2000.1169. Med Hypotheses. 2001. PMID: 11399122
-
Estradiol in elderly men.Aging Male. 2002 Jun;5(2):98-102. Aging Male. 2002. PMID: 12198740 Review.
-
Obesity in men: the hypogonadal-estrogen receptor relationship and its effect on glucose homeostasis.Med Hypotheses. 2008;70(2):358-60. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2007.05.020. Epub 2007 Sep 6. Med Hypotheses. 2008. PMID: 17825496
-
Letrozole normalizes serum testosterone in severely obese men with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.Diabetes Obes Metab. 2005 May;7(3):211-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1463-1326.2004.00397.x. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2005. PMID: 15811136 Clinical Trial.
-
Aromatase inhibitors as add-on treatment for men with epilepsy.Expert Rev Neurother. 2005 Jan;5(1):123-7. doi: 10.1586/14737175.5.1.123. Expert Rev Neurother. 2005. PMID: 15853482 Review.
Cited by
-
Associations of waist circumference with sex steroid hormones among 4031 USA children and adolescents.Asian J Androl. 2023;25(4):505-511. doi: 10.4103/aja202284. Asian J Androl. 2023. PMID: 36510861 Free PMC article.
-
Low estradiol concentrations in men with subnormal testosterone concentrations and type 2 diabetes.Diabetes Care. 2011 Aug;34(8):1854-9. doi: 10.2337/dc11-0208. Epub 2011 Jun 29. Diabetes Care. 2011. PMID: 21715518 Free PMC article.
-
Male Obesity-related Secondary Hypogonadism - Pathophysiology, Clinical Implications and Management.Eur Endocrinol. 2019 Aug;15(2):83-90. doi: 10.17925/EE.2019.15.2.83. Epub 2019 Aug 16. Eur Endocrinol. 2019. PMID: 31616498 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Associations of Metabolic Syndrome with Total Testosterone and Homocysteine Levels in Male Korean Workers.Endocrinol Metab (Seoul). 2019 Jun;34(2):158-168. doi: 10.3803/EnM.2019.34.2.158. Endocrinol Metab (Seoul). 2019. PMID: 31257744 Free PMC article.
-
Testosterone for the aging male; current evidence and recommended practice.Clin Interv Aging. 2008;3(1):25-44. doi: 10.2147/cia.s190. Clin Interv Aging. 2008. PMID: 18488876 Free PMC article. Review.
MeSH terms
Substances
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
