Metformin was found to reduce elevated
prolactin levels in women but not in men. The current study was aimed at investigating whether endogenous
testosterone determines the impact of
metformin on lactotroph function in men. This prospective case-control study included 28 men with recently diagnosed
type 2 diabetes mellitus and mild or moderate
hyperprolactinaemia, 14 of whom had low
testosterone levels, while in the remaining 14 ones'
testosterone levels were within the reference range. All participants received
metformin (2.55-3 g daily) for the following 4 months. Circulating levels of
glucose,
insulin,
prolactin,
testosterone,
oestradiol,
gonadotropins,
sex hormone-binding globulin adrenocorticotropic hormone,
insulin-like growth factor-1,
thyrotropin and free thyroid hormones were measured at the beginning and at the end of the study. Although metformin reduced plasma
glucose levels and improved
insulin sensitivity in both groups, this effect was stronger in participants with low
testosterone levels. Only in patients with abnormally low
testosterone levels, the drug decreased
prolactin levels. This effect, which was accompanied by an increase in
luteinizing hormone levels, was inversely correlated with baseline
testosterone and calculated free
testosterone levels, and positively with treatment-induced improvement in
insulin sensitivity. In both treatment groups,
metformin produced a neutral effect on plasma levels of the remaining
hormones. The obtained results suggest that endogenous
testosterone may attenuate the impact of
metformin on lactotropic cells.