Correlation of Increased Lipid Peroxidation with Serum Gonadotropins and Testosterone Levels in Type 2 Diabetic Men with Erectile Dysfunction

Abstract

Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism is one of cause in the pathogenesis of erectile dysfunction (ED) in type 2 diabetic men. Oxidative stress has been defined an important factor associated with the complications of diabetes (DM). Therefore, we aim to investigate the correlation of oxidative stress parameters with gonadotropins and testosterone in type 2 diabetic men with ED. Fifty two diabetic men participated in this study and classified according to ED status as Group 1 (with ED), and Group 2 (without ED). We compared Group 1 with Group 2 and control group. ED was found four times greater in DM than in control group. Advance age, longer diabetes duration, worse metabolic control, microvascular complications, greater BMI and treatment with insulin were found significantly high in Group 1 comparing with the men in Group 2. Serum LH, FSH, testosterone and DHEA-S levels in Group1 were significantly lower than those in Group 2 and control group. Significantly higher levels of lipid peroxidation and lower total antioxidant status and erythrocyt SOD activity and negative correlation between MDA with gonadotropins and testosterone was found in Group 1. In conclusion, increase in lipid peroxidation may be one of the factor responsible for the disruption of the normal feedback mechanism in Hipothalamus-Pituitary-Gonadal (HPG) axis. We considered that antioxidant treatments, glycemic control and loosing weight should be reduced oxidative damage on HPG axis and also in the development of microvascular complications which are major organic causes lead to ED in DM.