Endocrine Abstracts

BACKGROUND: Previous work has demonstrated a relationship between impaired carbohydrate metabolism and low serum levels of androgens in men. Men with diabetes have lower testosterone levels, and administration of physiological doses of testosterone improves glucose tolerance in these men. Men with coronary artery disease (CAD) have lower androgen levels than men with normal coronary arteries. We studied the relationship between testosterone, glucose, hypertension and DM in a p...

Objectives: Testosterone deficiency has been associated with depressive symptoms, which may be improved by replacement therapy. Patients with chronic heart failure have a high prevalence of depression, which is associated with early mortality in these patients. Men with heart failure may also have low plasma levels of testosterone, which could contribute to depressed mood. In a clinical study investigating whether testosterone treatment benefits men with heart failure, patient...

Background: Current evidence suggests that testosterone acts as a vasodilator in several vascular beds. This may have implications for men who are androgen deficient, in whom vascular reactivity may be impaired. We have studied vascular responses in vitro in femoral arteries from testicular feminised mice (Tfm), which lack a functional androgen receptor and are consequently androgen resistant and have reduced circulating levels of testosterone. Methods: Femoral arteries from m...

Testosterone deficiency increases risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes. Testosterone replacement (TRT) improves insulin resistance, glycaemic control and cholesterol in hypogonadal men. Liver X receptor (LXR) is a nuclear receptor which regulates lipid and glucose metabolism. LXR agonists protect against atherosclerosis but cause hepatic steatosis. We have previously shown that TRT protects against hepatic steatosis and atherosclerosis in high-fat diet-fed...

Objectives: Testosterone deficiency is common in obese men with type 2 diabetes. Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) improves insulin resistance, glycaemic control and cholesterol in hypogonadal men, and TRT reduces body fat mass. Adipose tissue plays a major role in glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity through the regulation of lipid and glucose metabolism. There are functional differences between subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue. This study investigates the...

Introduction: Both low testosterone levels and erectile dysfunction (ED) are highly prevalent in men with type 2 diabetes. Lower testosterone levels are known to be associated with worsening severity of ED as assessed using the International Index of Erectile Function score (IIEF). Testosterone deficiency and erectile dysfunction are both independently correlated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease.Aim: To investigate the effect of low testoste...

There are controversial data on the beneficial/detrimental effects on the cardiovascular as well as on the metabolic system by the sex hormone testosterone. Recent data support the hypothesis that low levels of androgens are associated with adverse cardiovascular risk factors including an atherogenic lipid profile, obesity, insulin resistance and hypertension. AMPK is a sensor of energy balance at both the cellular and whole-body level. Once activated by low energy status, it ...

There is a high prevalence of low testosterone levels in men with type 2 diabetes (DM2) and low testosterone predates the onset of DM2. Testosterone replacement therapy for hypogonadal men with DM2 improves insulin sensitivity and glycaemic control as well as reducing central obesity. This may lead to an increase in biochemical assessment of hypogonadism in men with DM2. Androgens and other steroid hormones are produced from cholesterol and it has been postulated that treatmen...

Low testosterone levels are a common finding in men with coronary artery disease and Type 2 diabetes and predict the future development of the metabolic syndrome and Type 2 diabetes in healthy men. Testosterone replacement therapy has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and glycaemic control in men with diabetes and improves numerous other cardiovascular risk factors. Interest in testosterone as a potential treatment for cardiovascular disease continues to grow. Low HDL ...

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is associated with maladaptive and prolonged neurohormonal and pro-inflammatory cytokine activation causing a metabolic shift favouring catabolism, vasodilator incapacity, and loss of skeletal muscle bulk and function. In men, androgens are important determinants of anabolic function and physical strength and also possess anti-inflammatory and vasodilatory properties. We conducted a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial of testosterone ...