Plasma Free and Non-Sex-Hormone-Binding-Globulin Bound Testosterone Are Decreased in Obese Men in Proportion to Their Degree of Obesity

ZUMOFF, BARNETT; STRAIN, GLADYS W.; MILLER, LORRAINE K.; ROSNER, WILLIAM; SENIE, RUBY; SERES, DAVID S.; ROSENFELD, ROBERT S.

doi:10.1210/jcem-71-4-929

Cited by 349Hormonal and reproductive studiesSperm and Testicular FunctionAdipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases

Plasma Free and Non-Sex-Hormone-Binding-Globulin Bound Testosterone Are Decreased in Obese Men in Proportion to Their Degree of Obesity

ZUMOFF, BARNETT, STRAIN, GLADYS W., MILLER, LORRAINE K., ROSNER, WILLIAM, SENIE, RUBY, SERES, DAVID S., ROSENFELD, ROBERT S.·1990·The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism

DOI 10.1210/jcem-71-4-929

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Abstract

It is known that plasma total testosterone (T) is decreased in obese men in proportion to the degree of obesity, but similar information is not available for plasma free T and non-sex-hormone-binding globulin (SHBG)-bound T. We measured the 24-h mean plasma total T in 48 healthy (non-weight-stable men, aged 18-55 yr, with body mass indexes (BMI) ranging from 21-95 kg/m2. Free T and non-SHBG-bound T were calculated using the measured total T, the concentrations of albumin and SHBG, and the association constants of T to albumin and SHBG. Total body fat content was measured by deuterium-water isotope dilution. Findings were as follows. 1) BMI was very highly correlated with total body fat content (r = 0.96; P less than 0.001); thus, the degree of obesity can be calculated just as appropriately from simple height and weight measurements as from measurements of total body fat content. 2) Total, non-SHBG-bound, and free T were all highly correlated inversely with BMI; for total T, r = -0.727, P less than 0.01; for non-SHBG-bound T, r = 0.677, P less than 0.01; and for free T, r = -0.653, P less than 0.01. Thus, free T and non-SHBG-bound T are decreased in obese men in proportion to the degree of obesity, just as is the case for total T; percentage-wise, the decrease was the same for all 3 parameters.

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Studies have shown that free testosterone levels are low in obese men and inversely correlate with the degree of obesity.
“Studies have shown that free testosterone levels are low in obese men and inversely correlate with the degree of obesity (20,21).”
From Clinical and Biochemical Assessment of Hypogonadism in Men With Type 2 Diabetes (2007) · cites this paper as [20]

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Authors: ZUMOFF, B., STRAIN, G. W., MILLER, L. K., ROSNER, W., SENIE, R., SERES, D. S., & ROSENFELD, R. S.
Affiliations: Mount Sinai Beth Israel (US)
ORCID: SERES, DAVID S.
Venue: The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
Publisher: The Endocrine Society
Published: 1990-10
Volume: 71
Issue: 4
Pages: 929-931
ISSN: 0021-972X (ISSN-L)
1945-7197
DOI: 10.1210/jcem-71-4-929
OpenAlex: W1996099825
Cited by: 349
References: 9
Citations by year: 2026: 4 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 17 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 10
FWCI: 3.14
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Hormonal and reproductive studies
Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Sperm and Testicular Function
Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Adipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases
Keywords: testosterone, free testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin, obesity, body mass index, total body fat, men, androgen binding
MeSH terms: Adult, Body Water, Body Weight, Humans, Male, Obesity, Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin, Testosterone

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Plasma Free and Non-Sex-Hormone-Binding-Globulin Bound Testosterone Are Decreased in Obese Men in Proportion to Their Degree of Obesity

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