Abstract
Elevated plasma levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) inhibit nitric oxide
formation and exert a proatherogenic action. Low testosterone (T) levels are associated
with increased cardiovascular risks. This study analyzed the effects of normalization
of plasma T levels on plasma levels and urinary excretion of ADMA in hypgonadal men
(n=10) receiving transdermal T administration. Plasma T levels, starting from clearly
hypogonadal T plasma concentrations with a mean level of 4.0±2.72 nmol/l at baseline,
rose to >10 nmol/l after 2 weeks, with plasma T levels within the normal range of
men (mean level of 22.5±11.3 nmol/l) over the last 16 weeks of the 24 weeks of T administration.
Normalization of plasma T led to a small but significant fall of plasma ADMA (519±55
vs. 472±59 nmol/l, p=0.031). The outcome of this study may be viewed as a favorable
effect of normalization of plasma testosterone on plasma ADMA since even small elevations
of plasma ADMA significantly increase cardiovascular risk. While this effect of normalization
of plasma T may impress as favorable, most available studies on effects of T administration
to hypogonadal men have not shown beneficial effects on functions of the vascular
wall.
Key words
asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) - male hypogonadism - testosterone - endothelial
dysfunction - nitric oxide - cardiovascular risk
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Correspondence
E. LeifkeMD
Medical Director
Clinical Research Diabetes Group
Takeda Global Research & Development
One Takeda Parkway
IL 60015 Deerfield
Telefon: +1/224/554 54 20
Fax: +1/224/554 78 56
eMail: eleifke@tgrd.com
