Oxidative stress is involved both in
metabolic syndrome and
male infertility.
Hypogonadism is also associated with increased risk for
cardiovascular disease. To investigate the role of gonadal
steroids in systemic
antioxidant regulation, we determined plasma CoenzymeQ(10) (
CoQ(10)) and total
antioxidant capacity (TAC) in postsurgical hypopituitaric patients. Twenty-six patients aged 28-55 years were studied 6-12 months after surgery.
CoQ(10) levels were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography and TAC by spectroscopy with the use of the mioglobin-H(2)O(2) system, which, in interacting with chromogen 2,2(I)-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate), generates a radical after a latency time (LAG) that is proportional to
antioxidant content. Sixteen patients presented low
testosterone values; in 10 patients
hypogonadism was isolated, and in 6 patients
hypothyroidism also was present.
CoQ(10) levels were significantly lower in isolated
hypogonadism than in normogonadism.
Testosterone treatment, performed in those patients with isolated
hypogonadism, induced a significant enhancement both in
CoQ(10) level and LAG.
CoQ(10) and LAG values correlated significantly, suggesting an interrelationship between different
antioxidants. Our data suggest that
hypogonadism could represent a condition of oxidative stress, in turn related with augmented cardiovascular risk.