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Serum Leptin, Gonadotropin, and Testosterone Concentrations in Male Patients with Anorexia Nervosa during Weight Gain

Department of Pediatrics and Institute of Biomedical Technology (M.W., R.H., E.H.), University of Ulm, Ulm D-89075, Germany; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (A.B., H.R., J.H.), University of Marburg, Marburg D-35033, Germany; and Lilly Deutschland (W.F.B.), Bad Homburg D-61350, Germany

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Johannes Hebebrand, Clinical Research Group, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Hans-Sachs-Strasse 6, 35033 Marburg, Germany. E-mail: Hebebran{at}post.med.uni-marburg.de

Abstract

Amenorrhea in female patients with anorexia nervosa is associated with low leptin secretion, thus suggesting a causal link. In an attempt to address the hypothesis that leptin also influences the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal function in males, we studied three male patients with acute anorexia nervosa longitudinally. Serum levels of leptin, LH, FSH, testosterone, and SHBG were measured on a biweekly basis during weight gain. Leptin levels at low body mass index values were below the 5th percentile. During weight gain, leptin levels reached or surpassed the 95th percentile. The temporal dynamics of body mass index and fat mass were closely related to those of leptin concentrations in serum. Leptin increments were paralleled by increments of gonadotropins, testosterone, and the free androgen index (FAI). In each of the patients, serum concentrations of leptin were positively correlated with those of testosterone (P = 0.0001, P = 0.01, P = 0.07, respectively) and FAI (P = 0.0001, P = 0.0001, P = 0.09, respectively). In addition, in the combined data set of all patients changes of leptin over time were positively correlated with changes in LH (P = 0.01), FSH (P = 0.0001), testosterone (P = 0.002), and FAI (P = 0.002). In conclusion, these data suggest that leptin might also play an important role in the regulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis and fertility in underweight males as has previously been shown in underweight females.

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