So similar and so different: Circulating androgens and androgen origin in bulimic women. Issue 185 (January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Naessén, Sabine; Söderqvist, Gunnar; Carlström, Kjell
• Is Part Of: Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology. Issue 185(2019)
• Page Start: 184
• Page End: 188
• Publication Date: 2019-01
• Subjects: Testosterone -- Dihydrotestosterone -- Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate -- Androgen origin -- Bulimia nervosa -- Eating disorder not otherwise specified; Steroid hormones -- Periodicals; Biochemistry -- Periodicals; Hormones -- Periodicals; Molecular Biology -- Periodicals; Hormones stéroïdes -- Périodiques; Steroid hormones; Periodicals; 572.579
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2018.08.013
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-0760

Abstract

Highlights: Positive correlations T and DHT vs DHEAS in bulimia nervosa (BN) and controls. DHT correlated to DHEAS in BN; to LH in eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS). Similar T, fT, DHT, DHEAS SHBG in BN, EDNOS but origin of T, DHT differed. T is formed in BN peripherally from DHEAS and by ovarian LH stimulation in EDNOS. These differences may influence diverging clinical manifestations of BN vs EDNOS. Abstract: Hyper androgen state frequently can be diagnosed in bulimic women. Eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS) recognized as a less severe form of bulimia nervosa (BN). The objective of the study was to determine whether androgen levels and androgen origin differs in bulimic women compared to control subjects. Forty-six women with bulimia nervosa (BN), 31 with eating disorder not otherwise specified, purging type (EDNOS P) and 56 matched healthy controls were studied with respect to serum testosterone (T), 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), deyhydroepiahndrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and luteinizing hormone (LH) and to ovarian morphology. Despite all groups had almost identical androgen and SHBG levels; there were differences in the origin of circulating T and DHT. Correlation analysis suggest major differences in the formation of circulating testosterone (T) and 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) with BN being more like the control subjects with peripheral formation from 4-androsterne-3, 17-dione (A-4), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and also from T. While in EDNOS group a possible direct ovarian T secretion and a DHEAS modulating action of androgens on pituitary gonadotropin secretion is present. The origin of circulating T and DHT differs between bulimics. Our findings do probably not reflect direct actions of circulating DHT on pituitary LH secretion in the women with EDNOS, but rather the effect of A-4, T via conversion to DHT in the central nervous system, indicating psych/endocrine differences between the two groups of bulimic women.