Relationship between Testosterone Level, Serum Omentin-1 and Insulin Resistance in Obese Men

Gehan Ibrahim Khalil ³

¹Applied Medical Chemistry Department, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

²Human Physiology Department, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

³ Chemical Pathology Department, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

^*Corresponding Author

Samir Ali Abd El-Kaream

Applied Medical Chemistry Department

Medical Research Institute

Alexandria University

Alexandria 2(03), Egypt

E-mail: samir_ali852006@yahoo.com

Abstract

Background: Adipose tissue besides its role in energy storage produces several hormones and cytokines termed adipokines that have widespread effects on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Omentin-1 is a newly identified adipokine that increases insulin sensitivity and is highly and selectively expressed in visceral adipose tissue relative to subcutaneous adipose tissue. Objective: The aim of the present work was to evaluate the level of serum omentin-1 and its association with serum testosterone and insulin resistance in obese men. Subjects and Methods: The present study included 20 apparently healthy men their mean BMI was (21.51 ± 2.26) kg/m2 and 40 obese men their mean BMI was (33.03 ± 2.41) kg/m2. Blood samples were collected from all subjects and the level of plasma omentin-1, insulin, total and free testosterone, sex hormone-bonding globulin and 17β-estradiol were measured by enzyme linked immunossorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Both serum omentin-1 and total testosterone as well as free testosterone were significantly negatively correlated with body mass index, waist circumference, fasting serum glucose, serum insulin and HOMA-IR, and significantly positively correlated with QUICKI and sex hormone-binding globulin. In addition, omentin-1 serum levels correlate positively with free testosterone. Conclusions: Obese men showed significantly higher; body mass index, waist circumference, waist to hip ratio, fasting serum glucose, 2hr oral glucose tolerance test, serum insulin, HOMA-IR and estradiol, and significantly lower omentin-1, total testosterone, free testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin as compared to normal group.

Keywords: omentin-1, testosterone, insulin resistance, obese men.

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