Recent reports of
osteoporosis in congenital
estrogen deficiency in humans from
estrogen resistance or
aromatase deficiency have called attention to the importance of
estrogen in males. It is the purpose of the present study to evaluate the effects of low- dose
estrogen on
glucose,
lipid and bone metabolism in males with
hypogonadism. Nine Thai males with primary or secondary
hypogonadism were included in the study.
Testosterone was discontinued at least 8 weeks before the study. The subjects received 0.3 mg of
conjugated equine estrogen (CEE) daily for 4 weeks. Serum C-terminal telopeptide of
type 1 collagen (CTX), total
cholesterol (TC),
LDL cholesterol (
LDL-C),
HDL cholesterol (HDL-C),
triglyceride (TG) and parameters related to
insulin sensitivity were measured at baseline and 4 weeks
after treatment.
Insulin sensitivity was assessed by frequent intravenous
glucose tolerance test. The mean age of subjects was 35.77 years (22-70 years).
Insulin sensitivity index (SI) did not change significantly after the administration of CEE (P=0.09). Likewise, no change in acute
insulin response (AIR(
glucose)) was detected. However,
glucose effectiveness (SG) significantly decreased after CEE (P<0.05). No significant change in serum TC,
LDL-C, HDL-C or TG was detected. In regard to bone turnover, serum CTX significantly decreased after CEE administration (P<0.05). We concluded that low-dose
estrogen administration in hypogonadal males for 4 weeks causes a decrease in bone turnover and an increase in
glucose effectiveness. No effect on serum
lipid concentrations or
insulin sensitivity and secretion was detected.