Inter-relationship of serum testosterone levels, serum adiponectin levels and anthropometric parameters of obesity in healthy young males of South Punjab

Abstract

Background: Testosterone not only has its own metabolic functions but it also controls production of adipocytokines (like adiponectin) which govern metabolic and immune status of men. Serum testosterone levels are specifically reduced with expansion of circumferential fat mass in men which not only deprives them of its beneficial functions but also reduces the metabolic and immune support extended by adipocytokines it governs. This, in turn paves way for development of metabolic disorders in obese men. Methods: It was a cross-sectional comparative study on 40 male subjects, aged 20?40 years, equally from non-obese and obese categories. Serum testosterone and adiponectin levels of these subjects were measured through ELISA. Results: Serum Testosterone levels of obese males were significantly lower as compared to their non obese counterparts (p=0.003) while serum adiponectin levels of obese subjects were significantly higher as compared to their non obese counterparts (p=0.005). Moreover, serum testosterone and adiponectin levels had a negative relationship with each other (p=0.001). Also, serum testosterone levels had an inverse correlation with waist circumference (WC) (p=0.002) and waist hip ratio (WHR) (p=0.004) of subjects while serum adiponectin levels had a direct correlation with WC (p=0.033) and WHR (p=0.002) of subjects. Conclusion: Circumferentially obese men have lower testosterone and higher adiponectin levels. Serum testosterone levels have an inverse correlation with WC and WHR while serum adiponecin levels are directly related to these.

Pak J Physiol 2019;15(3):34–8