Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol 67, 986-991, Copyright © 1988 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Correlation of serum 3 alpha-androstanediol glucuronide with acne and chest hair density in men

DP Lookingbill, N Egan, RJ Santen and LM Demers
Division of Dermatology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey 17033.

Serum 3 alpha-androstanediol glucuronide (3 alpha-Adiol-G) is considered to be an indicator of peripheral tissue androgen metabolism. Precursor circulating androgens are converted in peripheral tissue to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is ultimately metabolized to 3 alpha- Adiol-G and secreted from the cell. Elevated serum 3 alpha-Adiol-G concentrations have been reported in women in hyperandrogenic states. We studied 44 consecutive male medical students for chest hair density, acne, and serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), total testosterone (total T), free and albumin-bound (bioavailable) T (bio T), and 3 alpha-Adiol-G concentrations. Although there was considerable overlap of serum 3 alpha-Adiol-G values among the groups defined by hair density or acne scores, we found statistically significant correlations between serum 3 alpha-Adiol-G and chest hairiness (P = 0.0034), acne (P = 0.0005), and a combined chest hairiness and acne score (P = 0.0018). There was no significant correlation between these clinical parameters and the levels of precursor androgens. There was, however, a strong correlation between serum 3 alpha-Adiol-G and bio T (P = 0.0005), suggesting that in men serum 3 alpha-Adiol-G levels may be dependent upon available free and albumin-bound T. The correlations in men of serum 3 alpha-Adiol-G with chest hair density, acne, and the hairiness and acne index supports the hypothesis that the serum levels of 3 alpha-Adiol-G reflect the extent of androgen action in peripheral tissues.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. Carmina, S. Bucchieri, A. Esposito, A. Del Puente, P. Mansueto, F. Orio, G. Di Fede, and G. Rini Abdominal Fat Quantity and Distribution in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Extent of Its Relation to Insulin Resistance J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., July 1, 2007; 92(7): 2500 - 2505. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Carmina, F. Rosato, A. Janni, M. Rizzo, and R. A. Longo Relative Prevalence of Different Androgen Excess Disorders in 950 Women Referred because of Clinical Hyperandrogenism J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., January 1, 2006; 91(1): 2 - 6. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Falsetti, A. Gambera, and G. Tisi Efficacy of the combination ethinyl oestradiol and cyproterone acetate on endocrine, clinical and ultrasonographic profile in polycystic ovarian syndrome Hum. Reprod., January 1, 2001; 16(1): 36 - 42. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. J. Giltay and L. J. G. Gooren Effects of Sex Steroid Deprivation/Administration on Hair Growth and Skin Sebum Production in Transsexual Males and Females J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., August 1, 2000; 85(8): 2913 - 2921. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				B. Jin, L. Turner, Z. Zhou, E. L. Zhou, and D. J. Handelsman Ethnicity and Migration as Determinants of Human Prostate Size J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 1999; 84(10): 3613 - 3619. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. F. Webster Acne Vulgaris: State of the Science Arch Dermatol, September 1, 1999; 135(9): 1101 - 1102. [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. J. Santner, B. Albertson, G.-y. Zhang, G.-h. Zhang, M. Santulli, C. Wang, L. M. Demers, C. Shackleton, and R. J. Santen Comparative Rates of Androgen Production and Metabolism in Caucasian and Chinese Subjects J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 1998; 83(6): 2104 - 2109. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. I. Schwartz, W. K. Tanaka, D. Z. Wang, D. L. Ebel, L. A. Geissler, A. Dallob, B. Hafkin, and B. J. Gertz MK-386, an Inhibitor of 5{alpha}-Reductase Type 1, Reduces Dihydrotestosterone Concentrations in Serum and Sebum without Affecting Dihydrotestosterone Concentrations in Semen J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., May 1, 1997; 82(5): 1373 - 1377. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Beaulieu, E. Levesque, D. W. Hum, and A. Belanger Isolation and Characterization of a Novel cDNA Encoding a Human UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase Active on C19 Steroids J. Biol. Chem., September 13, 1996; 271(37): 22855 - 22862. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]