Visceral and Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue Assessed by Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Relation to Circulating Androgens, SHBG, and LH in Young Men

Context: No large studies have examined the relation between circulating androgen levels and regional, abdominal adiposity in young men using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Objective: To study the role of visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue (VAT and SAT) on circulating androgens and to examine the impact of obesity on androgen reference-intervals. Design, Setting, and Participants: Population-based study of 783 Danish, 20-29 year-old men. Ninety-eight men were ruled out of the healthy reference-population by predefined criteria related with hypogonadism. Total, central, and lower extremity fat mass (TFM, CFM, and LEFM) were assessed in all men by DXA and MRI was performed in 406 men. Main Outcome Measures: Total, bioavailable, and free testosterone (TT, BT, and FT), androstenedione (&8710;4AD), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), estradiol (E2), 2/TT-ratio, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), and luteinizing hormone (LH). Results: Significant, inverse, linear relationships were observed between TT, BT, FT, DHT, SHBG and all DXA measures, whereas a positive correlation was found for the E2/TT-ratio. No associations were found for &8710;4AD. Independent, inverse relations between CFM and TT (p