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Review
. 2015 Apr;23(4):713-9.
doi: 10.1002/oby.21033. Epub 2015 Mar 6.

The role of androgens in metabolism, obesity, and diabetes in males and females

Guadalupe Navarro  1 , Camille Allard, Weiwei Xu, Franck Mauvais-Jarvis
Affiliations
Review

The role of androgens in metabolism, obesity, and diabetes in males and females

Guadalupe Navarro et al. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2015 Apr.

Abstract

Objective: In men, androgen deprivation contributes to the development of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes (T2D). In women, androgen excess predisposes to insulin resistance and T2D. There is a bidirectional modulation of glucose homeostasis by androgens in males and females that is analyzed in this review.

Methods: We reviewed the literature in both rodents and humans on the role of androgens and the androgen receptor (AR) in the control of glucose and energy metabolism in health, obesity, and T2D.

Results: Sex-specific activation of AR in the hypothalamus, skeletal muscle, liver, adipose tissue, and pancreatic islet β-cells accounts for maintenance or disruption in energy metabolism and glucose homeostasis.

Conclusions: We argue that AR is a target to prevent androgen-related metabolic disorders.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest statement: Other authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Proposed mechanism of androgen action via AR in males
In males, androgens promote glucose and energy homeostasis via actions on AR in skeletal muscle, liver, pancreatic beta-cells and metabolic centers in the hypothalamus. Androgen actions on adipose tissue could be indirectly mediated via AR actions in muscle.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Proposed mechanism of excess AR activation in women
In females with hyperandrogenemia, excess AR activation in skeletal muscle, macrophages, pancreatic beta-cells and metabolic centers in the hypothalamus synergize to promote metabolic dysfunction, inflammation, visceral adiposity and T2D.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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