A comparison of androgen production and clearance in hirsute and obese women

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Virilization in women is associated with increased production of testosterone as well as a variety of androgenic prehormones, including androstenedione, androstenediol, DHEA, DHEA-sulfate, dihydrotestosterone and androstanediol. Of these hormones, it is likely that testosterone is the androgen which initiates a series of androgen-receptor mediated events resulting in stimulation of 5α reductase in the skin and hair follicles, producing dihydrotestosterone locally. The metabolism of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone within the hair follicle results in increased clearance of testosterone, however at the expense of hair follicle stimulation. Increased 5α reductase of the skin and hair allows other prehormones to be metabolized to dihydrotestosterone and androstanediol, further stimulating the hair follicle (multiplier effect). In obese women, androgen production rates are elevated and SHBG levels are depressed, in many cases to the same magnitude as that observed in hirsute women. Increased androgen production rates in obesity, however, are associated with major increases in clearance rates of these androgens. Resultant androgen blood levels are even lower than observed in the non-obese population. It appears likely that adipose tissue is the site of the increased clearance rates and metabolism of prehormones to dihydrotestosterone and androstanediol. A delicate balance likely exists between production and clearance of these biologically active hormones. Minor aberrations in this balance may result in the increased incidence of hirsutism seen in the obese female population.