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Body fat in men with prolactinoma

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Abstract

Objective: (a) To evaluate body fat in men with prolactinoma and healthy controls, using whole body dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and (b) to correlate DXA results with anthropometry and clinical aspects of male prolactinomas. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in two University referral centers. Eleven newly-diagnosed men with prolactinoma and 9 with normal PRL levels due to dopamine agonist treatment were submitted to DXA and blood analysis (PRL, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, estradiol, and SHBG) by the time of their clinical evaluation. They were compared with 14 control men of similar age and body mass index distribution. Results: Newly-diagnosed men with prolactinoma had higher fat percentage in the arms and the total body, when compared with patients treated with dopamine agonists and controls. The former group also presented higher fat percentage in the legs than the controls. Truncal fat percentage of the newly-diagnosed patients was lower than the dopamine agonist treated group. The 3 groups had similar android and gynoid fat contents. Fat percentage of the 6 sites correlated with PRL, testosterone, and dihydrotestosterone levels. Conclusion: Newly-diagnosed men with prolactinomas had higher body fat content. Body fat was linked to disease control, especially to the PRL and androgen levels. Consequently, adequate control of hyperprolactinemia should be pursued in order to reduce the risk of obesity and its metabolic complications in men with prolactinoma.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Hyperprolactinemia Unit, Clementino Fraga Filho University Hospital (HUCFF), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    E. C. O. Naliato MD, MSc PhD, A. H. D. Violante, A. Lamounier Filho & C. R. Loureiro

  2. Section of Endocrinology, Department of Molecular and Clinical Endocrinology and Oncology, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy

    M. Gaccione & A. Colao

  3. Pituitary Unit, Luiz Capriglione State Institute of Diabetes and Endocrinology/Rio de Janeiro (IEDE), Brazil

    D. Caldas

  4. Diagnósticos da America S/A, Brazil

    R. Fontes & Y. Schrank

  5. Medical School, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    F. S. R. Costa

Authors
  1. E. C. O. Naliato MD, MSc PhD
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  2. A. H. D. Violante
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  3. M. Gaccione
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  4. D. Caldas
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  5. A. Lamounier Filho
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  6. C. R. Loureiro
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  7. R. Fontes
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  8. Y. Schrank
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  9. F. S. R. Costa
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  10. A. Colao
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Correspondence to E. C. O. Naliato MD, MSc PhD.

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Naliato, E.C.O., Violante, A.H.D., Gaccione, M. et al. Body fat in men with prolactinoma. J Endocrinol Invest 31, 985–990 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03345636

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03345636

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