Hypoandrogen-Metabolic Syndrome in Men

Gould DC, Kirby RS, Amoroso P. Hypoandrogen-metabolic syndrome: a potentially common and underdiagnosed condition in men. Int J Clin Pract. 2007 Feb;61(2):341-4.

Researchers writing in the International Journal of Clinical Practice say Men with (Hypoandrogen-metabolic syndrome) and symptoms of androgen deficiency may be managed by, in the absence of contraindications, testosterone replacement therapy along with weight reduction and other measures to normalize glucose, lipid and blood pressure control.

The researchers noted that symptoms of androgen deficiency (hypoandrogenaemia (hypogonadism, hypotestosteronaemia) may be a common accompanying factor in men with the metabolic syndrome and when androgen deficiency and metabolic syndrome are present together “they may be considered as a specific entity, the hypoandrogen-metabolic (HAM) syndrome.”

The researchers concluded: “The prevalence of both hypoandrogenaemia and the metabolic syndrome increases with age and the clinician will frequently attend to men in their middle to advanced years with obesity, low androgen levels and metabolic syndrome.

These conditions place men at an increased risk of cardiovascular and coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes and can be simply investigated with weight, waist and blood pressure measurement and blood sample analyses.

Men with HAM and symptoms of androgen deficiency may be managed by, in the absence of contraindications, testosterone replacement therapy along with weight reduction and other measures to normalise glucose, lipid and blood pressure control.”