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Non-reproductive effects of follicle-stimulating hormone in young men

Elenkov, Angel LU ; Wirestrand, Elin ; Hagsund, Agnes ; Huhtaniemi, Ilpo LU ; Giwercman, Yvonne Lundberg LU and Giwercman, Aleksander LU (2023) In Andrology 11(3). p.471-477
Abstract

Objective: Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) receptor expression has been reported in many extra-gonadal tissues, raising the question of non-reproductive effects of FSH. Because of increasing usage of FSH in treatment of male infertility, deeper knowledge of possible harmful off-target effects of FSH is warranted. Methods: In total, 33 healthy young men (mean age 30 years) were included in the study. All received an s.c. injection of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist and n = 16 were randomized to 300 IU recombinant FSH (300 IE 3 times/week) for 5 weeks at first visit (V1) whereas n = 17 served as controls. Blood samples were taken at (V1), after 3 weeks (V2), and after 5 weeks (V3), when the study ended. At V2, all... (More)

Objective: Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) receptor expression has been reported in many extra-gonadal tissues, raising the question of non-reproductive effects of FSH. Because of increasing usage of FSH in treatment of male infertility, deeper knowledge of possible harmful off-target effects of FSH is warranted. Methods: In total, 33 healthy young men (mean age 30 years) were included in the study. All received an s.c. injection of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist and n = 16 were randomized to 300 IU recombinant FSH (300 IE 3 times/week) for 5 weeks at first visit (V1) whereas n = 17 served as controls. Blood samples were taken at (V1), after 3 weeks (V2), and after 5 weeks (V3), when the study ended. At V2, all subjects received 1000 mg testosterone undecanoate i.m. A standard set of bio- and inflammatory markers were compared between the groups using the Mann–Whitney test adjusted for multiple testing. Results: As compared to controls, the FSH treated men had higher SHBG and albumin concentrations at V2 (p = 0.024 and 0.027, respectively), and lower levels of alanine aminotransferase (p = 0.026) and magnesium (p = 0.028) at V3. However, none of the results remained statistically significant after Bonferroni correction (p > 0.0011). Conclusions: FSH had no significant effects on non-reproductive organs when given in standard therapeutic doses to young men for 5 weeks. Therefore, the FSH treatment can be considered safe in otherwise healthy young men, constituting candidates for the infertility treatment with FSH.

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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
FSH, inflammation, male infertility, metabolism
in
Andrology
volume
11
issue
3
pages
471 - 477
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • pmid:36451611
  • scopus:85146330460
ISSN
2047-2919
DOI
10.1111/andr.13335
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
270a5a5e-80ec-4cfd-a895-ecc099827e79
date added to LUP
2023-02-16 08:29:25
date last changed
2024-06-14 00:07:53
@article{270a5a5e-80ec-4cfd-a895-ecc099827e79,
  abstract     = {{<p>Objective: Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) receptor expression has been reported in many extra-gonadal tissues, raising the question of non-reproductive effects of FSH. Because of increasing usage of FSH in treatment of male infertility, deeper knowledge of possible harmful off-target effects of FSH is warranted. Methods: In total, 33 healthy young men (mean age 30 years) were included in the study. All received an s.c. injection of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist and n = 16 were randomized to 300 IU recombinant FSH (300 IE 3 times/week) for 5 weeks at first visit (V1) whereas n = 17 served as controls. Blood samples were taken at (V1), after 3 weeks (V2), and after 5 weeks (V3), when the study ended. At V2, all subjects received 1000 mg testosterone undecanoate i.m. A standard set of bio- and inflammatory markers were compared between the groups using the Mann–Whitney test adjusted for multiple testing. Results: As compared to controls, the FSH treated men had higher SHBG and albumin concentrations at V2 (p = 0.024 and 0.027, respectively), and lower levels of alanine aminotransferase (p = 0.026) and magnesium (p = 0.028) at V3. However, none of the results remained statistically significant after Bonferroni correction (p &gt; 0.0011). Conclusions: FSH had no significant effects on non-reproductive organs when given in standard therapeutic doses to young men for 5 weeks. Therefore, the FSH treatment can be considered safe in otherwise healthy young men, constituting candidates for the infertility treatment with FSH.</p>}},
  author       = {{Elenkov, Angel and Wirestrand, Elin and Hagsund, Agnes and Huhtaniemi, Ilpo and Giwercman, Yvonne Lundberg and Giwercman, Aleksander}},
  issn         = {{2047-2919}},
  keywords     = {{FSH; inflammation; male infertility; metabolism}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{471--477}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Andrology}},
  title        = {{Non-reproductive effects of follicle-stimulating hormone in young men}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/andr.13335}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/andr.13335}},
  volume       = {{11}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}