The study assessed anthropometric and laboratory variables, in particular testosterone (T) in a group of obese men of <40 years. Of 60 men with a body mass index (BMI) of >27 kg m(-2), 34 met the criteria of the metabolic syndrome (MS). Twenty men <40 years (with a BMI <25 kg m(-2)) were studied for comparison. It was found that with increasing BMI, levels of serum leptin, triglycerides, insulin, the ratio high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol/low-density liporotein (LDL) cholesterol, the waist circumference (WC), the area of visceral fat and systolic/diastolic blood pressure were higher, whereas insulin sensitivity (HOMA) and serum T were lower. Obesity (BMI 27-30 kg m(-2)) was associated with a decline in plasma T, but not with a decline in plasma sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). The latter was the case in more severe obesity (>30 kg m(-2)) qualifying as MS. In patients with MS, 58% variability of T levels could be predicted by combination of independent factors - SHBG, ratio LDL/HDL, insulin and leptin. On the other hand, in men with MS, 80% variance of concentrations of SHBG were predicted by triglycerides, HDL, glucose, leptin and surface of visceral adipose tissue. It is concluded that plasma T is significantly correlated with a number of features of the MS and, therefore, plasma T could serve as a marker of the MS.

This study tested 60 men, aged <40 years, with a BMI 27-35 kg/m(2) to determine whether they had metabolic syndrome. The three definitions used to test this were from the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). Further, the relationship between a positive definition and plasma testosterone (T) and calculated free T was analysed. Using the above three definitions of metabolic syndrome (MetS), there was a large degree of overlap of identifying obese men as having the syndrome, but there were quantitatively significant differences as well. So, it is relevant in studies to identify which of the present definitions of the syndrome has been used. With aging there is an increasing prevalence of the syndrome and age itself might be a factor in the lower T levels encountered in these men. But low plasma total T and calculated free T were also consistent features of men <40 years with metabolic syndrome, regardless of which definition had been applied. Including low T levels in the definition of metabolic syndrome, may be helpful.

We have studied steroid hormone profiles in young men with normal body mass index suffering obesity and metabolic syndrome. They showed a consistent tendency toward a shift in blood aldosterone level to the upper normal level and beyond. It was higher in patients with metabolic syndrome than with obesity. The testosterone levels displayed the downward trend from normal through obesity to metabolic syndrome values. The main predictors of testosterone dynamics in the course of development of obesity and metabolic syndrome were insulin concentration and BMI. Dynamics of dehydroepiandrosterone levels followed that of testosterone. It significantly decreased in men with metabolic syndrome compared with health subjects. Young men presenting with obesity and metabolic syndrome did not experience changes in morning and evening cortisol levels in peripheral blood. The study revealed the relationship between aldosterone levels and the development of metabolic syndrome mediated through the body mass index and the direct relationship between metabolic syndrome and testosterone dynamics.