Effect of obesity on diurnal patterns of testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone in male subjects

摘要

Objective. - The aim of this study was to determine the effects of obesity on the waking diurnal testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) cycles in obese middle-aged male subjects. Methods. - Saliva samples were collected at awakening and every 3 hours from 9:00 to 21:00 hours on 2 consecutive days in eight obese non-diabetic and eight healthy non-obese control men. Results. - Saliva parameters showed day-to-day consistency, with an overall diurnal decline, except for testosterone in the obese group. Saliva testosterone concentrations were significantly lower (P<0.05) at awakening, 9:00 and 12:00hours in obese versus control subjects. No significant differences were observed in saliva DHEA concentrations between the obese and control subjects at any time of day. Conclusion. - The results of this investigation indicate that obesity alone does not affect the concentrations or the diurnal pattern of DHEA in middle-aged men, whereas the diurnal pattern of testosterone appears altered in this population, with significantly lower values during the first part of the day.