Reproductive Endocrinopathies in Nigerian Males with Zero and Three or More Metabolic Syndrome Components

Abstract

Childlessness has adverse social, psychological and economic impact on affected couples. The contributions of males to infertility account for 40%. Hypogonadism in males has been associated with metabolic syndrome (MS). Although endocrinopathies have been observed in infertile men, similar data in males with MS in the general population is sparse. This study is therefore aimed at evaluating the endocrinopathies in Nigerian males with zero (ZMS) and MS. Sixty-seven male participants aged 18 - 70 years were purposely enrolled for this study. Fifty-two males had ZMS (control) while 15 males had MS. Demography, sexual history, blood pressure, anthropometry were obtained by standard methods. Fasting plasma glucose, triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were determined by enzymatic methods. Sex and pituitary hormones were determined by ELISA. Data analysed were statistically significant at p < 0.05. The MS group 8 (53.3%) had significantly more males with hypogonadism than the controls 2 (23.1%) (p<0.05). Compensatory hypogonadism and suboptimal hypogonadism are the most common endocrinopathies in controls and MS group. 9 (60%) and 5 (33%) of males in the MS group were overweight and obese respectively while 2 (3.8%) and 6 (11.5%) of controls were underweight and overweight. FSH had a direct relationship with age in eugonadal controls and hypogonadal males with MS while LH had an inverse relationship with age in eugonadal males in the MS group. Endocrinopathies are prevalent in Nigerian men irrespective of their metabolic status or age.