Acute testosterone deprivation reduces insulin sensitivity in men
K B Rubinow, C N Snyder, J K Amory, A N Hoofnagle, S T Page, K B Rubinow, C N Snyder, J K Amory, A N Hoofnagle, S T Page
Abstract
Objective: In men with prostate cancer, androgen deprivation reduces insulin sensitivity; however, the relative roles played by testosterone and estradiol are unknown. To investigate the respective effects of these hormones on insulin sensitivity in men, we employed a model of experimental hypogonadism with or without hormone replacement.
Design: Placebo-controlled, randomized trial.
Participants: Twenty-two healthy male volunteers, 18-55 years old.
Methods: Following screening, subjects received the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone antagonist acyline plus one of the following for 28 days: Group 1, placebo transdermal gel and placebo pills; Group 2, transdermal testosterone gel 10 g/day plus placebo pills; Group 3, transdermal testosterone gel 10 g/day plus the aromatase inhibitor anastrozole 1 mg/day to normalize testosterone while selectively reducing serum estradiol. Fasting insulin, glucose, adipokines and hormones were measured bi-weekly.
Results: With acyline administration, serum testosterone was reduced by >90% in all subjects in Group 1. In these men, mean fasting insulin concentrations were significantly increased compared with baseline (P = 0·02) at 28 days, despite stable body weight and no changes in fasting glucose concentrations. Decreased insulin sensitivity was also apparent in the insulin sensitivity indices homeostasis model of insulin resistance (P = 0·03) and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (P = 0·04). In contrast, in Groups 2 and 3, testosterone concentrations remained in the physiologic range, despite significant reduction in mean estradiol in Group 3. In these groups, no significant changes in insulin sensitivity were observed.
Conclusions: Acute testosterone withdrawal reduces insulin sensitivity in men independent of changes in body weight, whereas estradiol withdrawal has no effect. Testosterone appears to maintain insulin sensitivity in normal men.
© 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
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Source: PubMed