Testosterone, obesity, and waist circumference as determinants of metabolic syndrome in Saudi women

Abstract

Background

High serum total testosterone is associated with metabolic syndrome (MS). This study aimed to identify possible alterations in total testosterone and their relationship with plasma glucose, blood pressure, and serum lipid profile.

Methods

One hundred forty-two female subjects were selected to participate in this study, and they were recruited by consultant physicians from the Clinic and Medical Out-Patient, King Abdulaziz Hospital, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The anthropometric characteristics were obtained from questionnaires by using standard methods. Blood samples were obtained for the determination of glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein by using enzymatic methods. Total testosterone was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the quantitative measurement of testosterone in human serum.

Results

Significantly higher concentrations of total testosterone, low-density lipoprotein, and glucose, but lower concentrations of high-density lipoprotein, were observed in subjects with MS compared with women without MS (P<0.05).

Conclusion

This study suggests that high levels of total testosterone and disturbance in lipid profile were associated with MS in Saudi women.

Keywords:

• obesity
• hyperlipidemia
• testosterone
• metabolic syndrome
• lipid profile
• androgen
• insulin resistance

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Institute of Scientific Research and Revival of Islamic Culture, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for funding this project.

Author contributions

SHF contributed to design of the study, interpretation of biochemical laboratory investigations, and editing, styling, writing, and revising of the main manuscript text. HSA and MMM were involved in design of the study, interpretation of biochemical laboratory investigations, preparation of tables and figures, and editing, styling, writing, and revising of the main manuscript text. NAA and ATB contributed to biochemical laboratory investigations, statistical analysis, preparation of tables and figures, and editing, styling, writing, and revising of the main manuscript text. All the authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.