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  • Title: Increased body fat mass and androgen metabolism - A twin study in healthy young women.
    Author: Vihma V, Heinonen S, Naukkarinen J, Kaprio J, Rissanen A, Turpeinen U, Hämäläinen E, Hakkarainen A, Lundbom J, Lundbom N, Mikkola TS, Tikkanen MJ, Pietiläinen KH.
    Journal: Steroids; 2018 Dec; 140():24-31. PubMed ID: 30149073.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: Obesity may alter serum steroid concentrations and metabolism. We investigated this in healthy young women with increased body fat and their leaner co-twin sisters. DESIGN: Age and genetic background both strongly influence serum steroid levels and body composition. This is a cross-sectional study of 13 female monozygotic twin pairs (age, 23-36 years), ten of which were discordant for body mass index (median difference in body weight between the co-twins, 19 kg). METHODS: We determined body composition by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and magnetic resonance imaging, serum androgens by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and mRNA expression of genes in subcutaneous adipose tissue and adipocytes. RESULTS: The heavier women had lower serum dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) (P < 0.05 for all) compared to their leaner co-twins with no differences in serum testosterone or androstenedione levels. Serum DHEA correlated inversely with %body fat (r = -0.905, P = 0.002), and DHT positively with SHBG (r = 0.842, P = 0.002). In adipose tissue or adipocytes, expressions of STS (steroid sulfatase) and androgen-related genes were significantly higher in the heavier compared to the leaner co-twin, and within pairs, correlated positively with adiposity but were not related to serum androgen levels. None of the serum androgen or SHBG levels correlated with indices of insulin resistance. CONCLUSIONS: Serum DHEA levels were best predicted by %body fat, and serum DHT by SHBG. These or other serum androgen concentrations did not reflect differences in androgen-related genes in adipose tissue. General or intra-abdominal adiposity were not associated with increased androgenicity in young women.
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