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Fat Tissue Converts Testosterone Into Estradiol
Obesity & Test Levels
Researchers looked at the effect of obesity and diabetes on the testosterone levels of men aged over 45. They discovered that 40 percent of the men with obesity – BMI higher than 30 – but no diabetes had low testosterone levels. For the seriously overweight men with diabetes the figure was 50 percent.
Study
Because serious weight problems are increasing among young people, the researchers wanted to know whether testosterone levels were low in overweight teenagers. They studied a group of 25 slim and 25 overweight teenagers.
Results
The higher the teenagers BMI, the lower the concentration of free testosterone in their blood.
The overweight subjects had an average BMI of 36; that of the slim subjects was 20. The testosterone [TT] and free testosterone [cFT] levels in the overweight teenagers were about half those of the slim teenagers.
The accepted theory is that fat tissue converts testosterone into estradiol. The researchers are not sure whether this is the case for this group, however. Although the overweight teenagers had a slightly raised estradiol level, this did not correlate with the reduced testosterone level.
The researchers have put forward a different theory: the overweight teenagers' insulin sensitivity is lower. One measure of insulin sensitivity is the HOMA-IR (which is calculated by multiplying the fasting glucose and insulin levels with each other). The higher the HOMA-IR, the lower the amount of free testosterone.
The researchers suspect that reduced sensitivity to insulin prompts the hypothalamus to secrete less GnRH. Normally the hypothalamus increases its GnRH secretion if the insulin level rises. So GnRH indirectly shuts off the body’s testosterone production.
Conclusion
"In view of the rising prevalence of obesity, the association of significantly lower testosterone concentrations with obesity in males is alarming and points to major public health problem", the researchers conclude.
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Obesity & Test Levels
Researchers looked at the effect of obesity and diabetes on the testosterone levels of men aged over 45. They discovered that 40 percent of the men with obesity – BMI higher than 30 – but no diabetes had low testosterone levels. For the seriously overweight men with diabetes the figure was 50 percent.
Study
Because serious weight problems are increasing among young people, the researchers wanted to know whether testosterone levels were low in overweight teenagers. They studied a group of 25 slim and 25 overweight teenagers.
Results
The higher the teenagers BMI, the lower the concentration of free testosterone in their blood.
The overweight subjects had an average BMI of 36; that of the slim subjects was 20. The testosterone [TT] and free testosterone [cFT] levels in the overweight teenagers were about half those of the slim teenagers.
The accepted theory is that fat tissue converts testosterone into estradiol. The researchers are not sure whether this is the case for this group, however. Although the overweight teenagers had a slightly raised estradiol level, this did not correlate with the reduced testosterone level.
The researchers have put forward a different theory: the overweight teenagers' insulin sensitivity is lower. One measure of insulin sensitivity is the HOMA-IR (which is calculated by multiplying the fasting glucose and insulin levels with each other). The higher the HOMA-IR, the lower the amount of free testosterone.
The researchers suspect that reduced sensitivity to insulin prompts the hypothalamus to secrete less GnRH. Normally the hypothalamus increases its GnRH secretion if the insulin level rises. So GnRH indirectly shuts off the body’s testosterone production.
Conclusion
"In view of the rising prevalence of obesity, the association of significantly lower testosterone concentrations with obesity in males is alarming and points to major public health problem", the researchers conclude.
Muscle Preserving Fat Burner 120 Count Amazon
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