BACKGROUND: Morbid obesity is associated with increased estradiol production as a result of aromatase-dependent conversion of testosterone to estradiol. The elevated serum estradiol levels may inhibit pituitary LH secretion to such extent that hypogonadotropic hypogonadism can result. Normalization of the disturbed estradiol-testosterone balance may be beneficial to reverse the adverse effects of hypogonadism. AIM: To examine whether aromatase inhibition with Letrozole can normalize serum testosterone levels in severely obese men with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ten severely obese men, mean age 48.2 +/- 2.3 (s.e.) years and body mass index 42.1 +/- 2.6 kg/m(2), were treated with Letrozole for 6 weeks in doses ranging from 7.5 to 17.5 mg per week. RESULTS: Six weeks of treatment decreased serum estradiol from 120 +/- 20 to 70 +/- 9 pmol/l (p = 0.006). None of the subjects developed an estradiol level of less than 40 pmol/l. LH increased from 4.5 +/- 0.8 to 14.8 +/- 2.3 U/l (p < 0.001). Total testosterone rose from 7.5 +/- 1.0 to 23.8 +/- 3.0 nmol/l (p < 0.001) without a concomitant change in sex hormone-binding globulin level. Those treated with Letrozole 17.5 mg per week had an excessive LH response. CONCLUSION: Short-term Letrozole treatment normalized serum testosterone levels in all obese men. The clinical significance of this intervention remains to be established in controlled, long-term studies.
BACKGROUND: Morbid obesity is associated with increased estradiol production as a result of aromatase-dependent conversion of testosterone to estradiol. The elevated serum estradiol levels may inhibit pituitary LH secretion to such extent that hypogonadotropic hypogonadism can result. Normalization of the disturbed estradiol-testosterone balance may be beneficial to reverse the adverse effects of hypogonadism. AIM: To examine whether aromatase inhibition with Letrozole can normalize serum testosterone levels in severely obesemen with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ten severely obesemen, mean age 48.2 +/- 2.3 (s.e.) years and body mass index 42.1 +/- 2.6 kg/m(2), were treated with Letrozole for 6 weeks in doses ranging from 7.5 to 17.5 mg per week. RESULTS: Six weeks of treatment decreased serum estradiol from 120 +/- 20 to 70 +/- 9 pmol/l (p = 0.006). None of the subjects developed an estradiol level of less than 40 pmol/l. LH increased from 4.5 +/- 0.8 to 14.8 +/- 2.3 U/l (p < 0.001). Total testosterone rose from 7.5 +/- 1.0 to 23.8 +/- 3.0 nmol/l (p < 0.001) without a concomitant change in sex hormone-binding globulin level. Those treated with Letrozole 17.5 mg per week had an excessive LH response. CONCLUSION: Short-term Letrozole treatment normalized serum testosterone levels in all obesemen. The clinical significance of this intervention remains to be established in controlled, long-term studies.
Authors: Stefan S Du Plessis; Stephanie Cabler; Debra A McAlister; Edmund Sabanegh; Ashok Agarwal Journal: Nat Rev Urol Date: 2010-02-16 Impact factor: 14.432
Authors: Miguel Angel Mollar Puchades; Rosa Cámara Gómez; Maria Isabel del Olmo García; José Luis Ponce Marco; Raquel Segovia Portolés; Pablo Abellán Galiana; Francisco Piñón Sellés Journal: Obes Surg Date: 2007-08 Impact factor: 4.129
Authors: Yung Lee; Jerry T Dang; Noah Switzer; James Yu; Chunhong Tian; Daniel W Birch; Shahzeer Karmali Journal: Obes Surg Date: 2019-01 Impact factor: 4.129