Correlation of the serum testosterone level with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome in patients of erectile dysfunction and benign prostatic hyperplasia

Abstract

Purpose: Testosterone deficiency has recently captured attention as a possible risk factor for metabolic syndrome. This study was conducted to investigate a correlation of the serum testosterone level with insulin resistance (IR) and metabolic syndrome (MS). Materials and Methods: The metabolic risk factors, the blood pressure, the waist circumference and the fasting serum levels of glucose, triglyceride and high density lipoprotein cholesterol were measured for a total of 215 patients (mean age; 61.04±0.54 years) with erectile dysfunction (ED) or/and symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The serum total testosterone and insulin were measured at the same time, and the free testosterone, bioavailable testosterone and IR were calculated. Results: The prevalence of MS and the number of associated MS risk factors were significantly higher in the insulin resistance group (IRG) than in the insulin sensitive group (ISG). The serum testosterone level significantly decreased with more risk factors. The IRG showed a significantly lower level of serum testosterone than the patients with ED and the total patients. Conclusions: The negative correlation of a decrease in the serum testosterone level with IR and MS suggests that late onset hypogonadism might be a risk factor of MS.