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Query: UMLS:C0028754 (obesity)
 124,988 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Hyperandrogenism in adolescent girls can be a troubling problem because of the difficulty in establishing a diagnosis and in prescribing appropriate therapy. Androgen excess in adolescent patients encompasses a spectrum of clinical presentations, including acne, hirsutism, oligomenorrhea, amenorrhea, virilism, and ovarian cysts. Androgen excess is a clinical and chemical feature of idiopathic hirsutism, late-onset forms of congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and polycystic ovarian disease; in some cases, functional hyperandrogenism is discussed. We recommend screening for hyperandrogenism by measuring blood levels of testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and delta 4-androstenedione, while others propose a first dexamethasone suppression test for evaluation of free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and cortisol. Treatment will be chosen according to particular symptoms such as acne, hirsutism, obesity, or oligomenorrhea.
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PMID:Management of hyperandrogenism in adolescent girls. 184 Jan 43

Hyperinsulinemia is a well-recognized entity of simple obesity. It is demonstrated that hyperinsulinemia is associated with upper body fat and fat cell hypertrophy. Androgen excess and lower levels of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) may produce fat cell hypertrophy and hyperinsulinemia as well. We measured serum insulin and C-peptide levels during an OGTT in two groups of obese premenopausal women to determine whether the hyperinsulinemia is due to hypersecretion or due to a diminished hepatic extraction of insulin. In this study, we found no correlation between the insulin and C-peptide levels or their ratio and the degree of obesity. However, a significant correlation was found between the waist-to-hip circumference ratio (WHR), used as an index of body fat distribution, and the areas of insulin (r = 0.55; P less than 0.001) and C-peptide (r = 0.51; P less than 0.001). SHBG and free androgen index (FAI) were also significantly related to these areas. The peripheral C-peptide/insulin molar ratio has been assumed to reflect changes in hepatic insulin extraction while the corrected C-peptide response reflects beta-cell function. WHR was negatively related to this ratio (r = -0.44; P less than 0.005) and SHBG showed a positive correlation (r = 0.34; P less than 0.05). Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that the 2-h insulin and C-peptide values and both curve areas can be explained up to 40-80% by sex hormones and anthropometric variables. Also the C-peptide/insulin molar ratio is dependent in a first step on WHR (r2 = 0.23; P less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Decreased hepatic insulin extraction in upper body obesity: relationship to unbound androgens and sex hormone binding globulin. 187 8

5-10% of all women have an androgen excess syndrome. Androgen excess signs and symptoms include hirsutism, acne, central obesity, male-pattern baldness, upper torso widening, increased waist-to-hip ratio, clitoral hypertrophy, and deepening of the voice. Physicians must be able to recognize these signs and symptoms. Presence of these signs and symptoms calls for a screening history and physical examination. Differential diagnoses of androgen excess in women include endogenous and exogenous causes. Endogenous-related diagnoses are those of ovarian origin (primary tumors, metastatic tumors, polycystic ovary syndrome, ovarian stromal hyperthecosis, androgen excess in pregnancy, and abnormal gonadal or sexual development) and those of adrenal origin (Cushing's syndrome/disease, late-onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and tumors). Exogenous causes of androgen excess include Danazol, Phenytoin, Diazoxide, Hexachlorobenzene, Hexachlorophene, Minoxidil, Cyclosporin, testosterone and other androgens, anabolic steroids, synthetic progestins (the pill), and Metapyrone. When physicians treat patients for one symptom of androgen excess, they should watch for other signs and symptoms. Serious health risks associated with androgen excess include cardiovascular disease, intravascular thrombosis, and insulin resistance. Physicians must be aware that timely clinical recognition of androgen excess, knowledge of androgen-related biochemical abnormalities underlying the risks linked to androgen excess, and risk modification behavior reduces associated morbidity and mortality. Risk reduction strategies are correction of dyslipidemias, low-dose aspirin for primary prevention of myocardial infarction, maintenance of ideal weight, smoking cessation, exercise, use of combined oral contraceptives (OCs) with a low-androgenic progestin, and postmenopausal estrogen replacement. OCs also slow progression of long-term sequelae (e.g., cardiovascular disease).
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PMID:Effects of sex steroids on women's health: implications for practitioners. 782 34

Androgen excess (AE) is one of the most common endocrine disorders, affecting 10% of adult women before the menopause. The clinical picture varies widely depending on the etiology of AE. Most of these women are suffering from hirsutism, acne, menstrual disturbances, anovulation and obesity. Virilization is unusual, except in patients with ovary or adrenal cancer. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and idiopathic hirsutism (IH) are the most frequent causes of androgen excess, accounting for more than 90% of the cases. The pathogenesis of PCOS is still an unresolved problem. A hereditary predisposition has been suggested. Enzymatic deficiency is a less frequent cause of AE, the most common deficiency being the non classic 21-OH deficiency (NCAH). AE has been implicated as a side effect of many drugs. Ovary and adrenal tumours are unusual, however, they must be considered especially in case of severe hirsutism or virilization. Complementary investigations are selected based on the result of clinical examination. Pharmacologic therapy, usually with anti-androgens, is the most widely used treatment for PCOS, IH and NCAH. Surgical therapy should be considered only when there is a particular indication such as Cushing's syndrome, ovary or adrenal tumours.
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PMID:[Hyperandrogenism: clinical aspects, investigation and treatment]. 1038 70

Androgen excess in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may be ovarian and/or adrenal in origin, and one proposed contributing mechanism is altered cortisol metabolism. Increased peripheral metabolism of cortisol may occur by enhanced inactivation of cortisol by 5alpha-reductase (5alpha-R) or impaired reactivation of cortisol from cortisone by 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11beta-HSD1) resulting in decreased negative feedback suppression of ACTH secretion maintaining normal plasma cortisol concentrations at the expense of androgen excess. We have tested whether any enzyme dysregulation was related to circulating insulin or androgen concentrations in women with PCOS and have sought to clarify their relationship with obesity. First, to avoid obesity-related effects on cortisol metabolism, 18 lean women with PCOS were compared with 19 lean controls who were closely matched for body mass index (BMI). Second, the impact of obesity was studied in a cross-section of 42 PCOS women of a broad range of BMI. We measured 24-h urinary excretion of steroid metabolites by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and fasting metabolic and hormone profiles. Urinary excretion of androgens [androsterone (P = 0.003), etiocholanolone (P = 0.02), and C19 steroid sulfates (P = 0.009)], cortisone metabolites [tetrahydrocortisone (THE) (P = 0.02), alpha-cortolone (P < 0.001), beta-cortol + beta-cortolone (P < 0.001), cortolones (P < 0.001), and E metabolites (P < 0.001)], and TCM (P = 0.002) were raised in lean PCOS subjects when compared with controls. A significantly higher 5alpha-tetrahydrocortisol (5alpha-THF)/5beta-THF ratio (P = 0.04) and a significantly lower alpha-THF + THF + alpha-cortol/THE + cortolones ratio (P = 0.01) were found in lean PCOS women compared with lean controls, indicating both enhanced 5alpha-R and reduced 11beta-HSD1 activities. A decreased THE/cortolones ratio (P = 0.03) was also found in lean PCOS women compared with lean controls, indicating increased 20 alpha/beta-HSD activity. In the group of 42 PCOS subjects, measures of 5alpha/5beta reduction were positively correlated with the homeostasis model insulin resistance index (HOMA-R): alpha-THF/THF and HOMA-R (r = 0.34; P = 0.03), androsterone/etiocholanolone and HOMA-R (r = 0.32; P = 0.04), and total 5alpha /total 5beta and HOMA-R (r = 0.37; P = 0.02). A positive correlation was also found between measures of 5alpha-R and BMI (r = 0.37; P = 0.02). No correlation was found between measures of 11beta-HSD1 activity and indices of insulin sensitivity or BMI. We have demonstrated that there is an increased production rate of cortisol and androgens as measured in vivo in lean PCOS women. Insulin seems to enhance 5alpha reduction of steroids in PCOS but was not associated with the elevated cortisol production rate. The changes in 5alpha-R, 11beta-HSD1, and 20alpha/beta-HSD enzyme activities observed in PCOS may contribute to the increased production rates of cortisol and androgens, supporting the concept of a widespread dysregulation of steroid metabolism. This dysregulation does not seem to be the primary cause of PCOS because no correlation was found between serum androgen levels or urinary excretion of androgens with measurements of either 5alpha-R or 11beta-HSD1 activities.
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PMID:Altered cortisol metabolism in polycystic ovary syndrome: insulin enhances 5alpha-reduction but not the elevated adrenal steroid production rates. 1467 Nov 89

Obese women are characterized by similar comorbidities to men, particularly type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, they also develop some specific problems, including fertility-related disorders and some hormone-dependent forms of cancer. The relationship between excess body fat and reproductive disturbances appears to be stronger for early-onset obesity. Early onset of obesity, particularly during adolescence, favours the development of menses irregularities, chronic oligo-anovulation and infertility in adulthood. Moreover, obesity in women can increase the risk of miscarriage and impair the outcome of assisted reproductive technologies. The main factor implicated in the association between obesity and fertility-related disorders is insulin excess, which accompanies insulin resistance. Hyperinsulinaemia may be directly responsible for the development of androgen excess, through its effects in reducing sex hormone-binding globulin synthesis and circulating concentrations, and in stimulating ovarian androgen production rates. Androgen excess, in turn, represents one of the major factors leading to altered ovarian physiology and associated ovulatory disturbances. Obesity-associated hyperleptinaemia may represent an additional factor involved in anovulation, not only through the induction of insulin resistance, but also through a direct impairment of ovarian function.
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PMID:Metabolic effects of obesity on reproduction. 1679 96

OBJECTIVE Increased serum ferritin levels and iron stores may be involved in the development of abnormal glucose tolerance in women presenting with obesity and/or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). We aimed to study the determinants of serum ferritin levels in premenopausal women among indexes of insulin resistance, adiposity, hyperandrogenism, and genotypes pertaining to inflammation, oxidative stress, and iron metabolism. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A total of 257 premenopausal women, classified depending on the presence or absence of PCOS, obesity, and/or abnormal glucose tolerance, underwent a complete metabolic evaluation, serum ferritin, haptoglobin, and C-reactive protein (CRP) measurements, and genotyping for proinflammatory and prooxidant variants and mutations in the HFE gene. RESULTS Serum ferritin concentrations were increased in women presenting with PCOS and/or abnormal glucose tolerance, independent of obesity. A stepwise multivariate linear regression analysis (R(2) = 0.18, P < 0.0001) retained menstrual dysfunction (beta = 0.14, P = 0.035), free testosterone (beta = 0.14, P = 0.052), insulin sensitivity index (beta = -0.12, P = 0.012), the His63Asp variant in HFE (beta = 0.16, P = 0.008), and abnormal glucose tolerance (beta = 0.15, P = 0.015) as significant predictors of the logarithm of ferritin levels, whereas CRP, haptoglobin, waist-to-hip ratio, or variants in the TNFalpha, TNFRSF1B, IL6, IL6ST, IL6Ralpha, PON1, and HFE Cys282Tyr mutation exerted no influence. CONCLUSIONS Androgen excess (partly because of hyperandrogenemia and partly because of menstrual dysfunction), insulin resistance, abnormal glucose tolerance, and the HFE His63Asp variant correlate with ferritin levels in premenopausal women.
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PMID:Body iron stores and glucose intolerance in premenopausal women: role of hyperandrogenism, insulin resistance, and genomic variants related to inflammation, oxidative stress, and iron metabolism. 1940 44

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency is a common autosomal recessive disorder characterized by impaired cortisol biosynthesis, with or without aldosterone deficiency, and androgen excess. Patients with the classic (severe) form also have epinephrine deficiency. Patients with CAH have an increased prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease including obesity, hypertension, and insulin resistance. Androgen excess in women appears to be an additional risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Carotid intima-media thickness, a measure of subclinical atherosclerosis, also has been found to be increased in adults with CAH. The multiple hormonal imbalances present in the adult woman with CAH, in combination with chronic glucocorticoid therapy, contribute to cardiovascular disease risk. Further investigation of the predisposition to cardiovascular disease in women with CAH is warranted. Longitudinal studies are needed, and interventions targeting obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, and hyperandrogenism may offer improved outcome.
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PMID:Cardiovascular disease risk in adult women with congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency. 1953 65

Androgen excess in women and androgen deficiency in men facilitate abdominal adiposity and related metabolic disorders. Moreover, obesity-associated gonadal dysfunction consists of hyperandrogenism in women but hypogonadism in men. We have reviewed the existing evidence on the interplay between sex steroids, adipose tissue and lean mass distribution, and developed a novel hypothesis to explain these apparent paradoxes. We hypothesize that the most beneficial adipose tissue distribution and function is that of normal women, who have low androgen and high estrogen concentrations. Any imbalance favoring an increase in androgen levels in women, and the very high androgen levels characteristic of healthy men, influence adipose tissue distribution and function. Sex steroids determine a favorable (female) or unfavorable (male) body fat distribution and function. However, sex hormones also provide defensive mechanisms against visceral fat accumulation: androgens increase lean and muscle mass in men, decreasing the amount of visceral fat relative to total body mass and its negative consequences, whereas estrogens determine the metabolically safer deposition of body fat into the subcutaneous gluteal-femoral depot in women. This delicate equilibrium may be altered by the presence of gonadal dysfunction, a sedentary life-style or the normal ageing process leading to sarcopenia, and by the development of obesity leading to abdominal adiposity and metabolic disorders in both sexes. In conclusion, sex hormones and gonadal dysfunction play important roles in the pathogenesis of diabesity and its metabolic associations.
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PMID:The striking similarities in the metabolic associations of female androgen excess and male androgen deficiency. 2510 55

Androgen excess in women is associated with metabolic dysfunction (e.g., obesity, hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, and increased risk of type 2 diabetes) and reproductive dysfunction (e.g., polycystic ovaries, amenorrhea, dysregulated gonadotropin release, and infertility). We sought to identify the effects of androgen excess on glucose metabolic dysfunction and the specific mechanisms of action by which androgens are inducing pathology. We developed a mouse model that displayed pathophysiological serum androgen levels with normal body mass/composition to ensure that the phenotypes were directly from androgens and not an indirect consequence of obesity. We performed reproductive tests, metabolic tests, and hormonal assays. Livers were isolated and examined via molecular, biochemical, and histological analysis. Additionally, a low-dose dihydrotestosterone (DHT) cell model using H2.35 mouse hepatocytes was developed to study androgen effects on hepatic insulin signaling. DHT mice demonstrated impaired estrous cyclicity; few corpora lutea in the ovaries; glucose, insulin, and pyruvate intolerance; and lowered hepatic insulin action. Mechanistically, DHT increased hepatic androgen-receptor binding to phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)-p85, resulting in dissociation of PI3K-p85 from PI3K-p110, leading to reduced PI3K activity and decreased p-AKT and, thus, lowered insulin action. DHT increased gluconeogenesis via direct transcriptional regulation of gluconeogenic enzymes and coactivators. The hepatocyte model recapitulated the in vivo findings. The DHT-induced hepatocyte insulin resistance was reversed by the androgen-receptor antagonist, flutamide. These findings present a phenotype (i.e., impaired glucose tolerance and disrupted glucose metabolism) in a lean hyperandrogenemia model (low-dose DHT) and data to support 2 molecular mechanisms that help drive androgen-induced impaired glucose metabolism.
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PMID:Low-Dose Dihydrotestosterone Drives Metabolic Dysfunction via Cytosolic and Nuclear Hepatic Androgen Receptor Mechanisms. 2921 1


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