Evaluation of Male Reproductive Hormone Profiles Among Diabetes Patients, With a Focus on Testosterone and Luteinizing Hormone

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common metabolic disorder associated with multiple complications, including sexual dysfunction. Hypogonadism, characterized by low serum testosterone, is increasingly recognized among diabetic men but remains under-investigated in Nigeria. This is a cross-sectional study conducted among 70 diabetic men and 70 age-matched apparently healthy controls attending Specialist Hospital Sokoto, Nigeria. Venous blood samples were collected for fasting glucose, testosterone, and luteinizing hormone (LH) assays using ELISA. Anthropometric measurements were obtained. Hypogonadism was defined as serum testosterone < 4.0 ng/ml. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 with p < 0.05 considered significant. The prevalence of biochemical hypogonadism was significantly higher in diabetic men (56.9%). Diabetic participants had lower mean testosterone levels (3.46 ± 0.37 ng/ml vs. 6.71 ± 0.27 ng/ml, p < 0.001) and higher LH concentrations (9.52 ± 1.34 mIU/ml vs. 6.73 ± 0.34 mIU/ml, p = 0.05). No significant differences were found between type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients. Testosterone correlated negatively with age, BMI, and duration of diabetes, though not significantly, while LH showed a significant positive correlation with BMI (p = 0.029). More than half of diabetic men in this study had biochemical hypogonadism, predominantly of the primary type, as evidenced by low testosterone and elevated LH. Routine hormonal evaluation should be incorporated into diabetes management to improve reproductive and metabolic health outcomes.