Leptin and Andropause

ABSTRACT

To determine whether circulating leptin levels change in andropausal Egyptian men. Subjects and Forty elderly nondiabetic nonobese Egyptian men [aged 65 to 75 years] [group I] were included. Subjects were non obese with BMI <25 kg/m2. Twenty healthy adult men served as controls [group II]. Estimation of fasting serum level of leptin, DHEAS and free testosterone were done using ELISA technique. Mean fasting serum leptin was significantly higher in elderly and ropause men when compared to adult men [P<0.001]. Mean fasting serum free testosterone and DHEAS ware significantly lower in group I when compared to group II [t = 18.15, P < 0.001, and t = 25 - 16, P < 0.001, respectively]. Significant negative correlation was found between serum free testosterone and serum leptin in group I [r=-0.692, P < 0.001]. Our data confirmed increased serum leptin concentration in andropausal elderly Egyptian men. An inverse correlation between serum leptin and testosterone was illustrated. Testosterone replacement therapy may be of benefit in suppressing hyperleptinemia in elderly men with subsequent break of hypogonadal-obesity cycle and prevention of development of CHAOS Complex. Further studies examining the effect of other hormonal changes during aging on serum leptin are recommended