[Hyperandrogenism in hirsute and obese women. Effects of a low calorie diet].

To investigate the relationship between overweight and hyperandrogenism, a 1500 kcal/day diet was prescribed for 4 months to 23 hirsute and obese patients. This diet decreased body mass index from 29.9 +/- 4.9 to 27.2 +/- 4.4 kg/m2 (P < 0.008), but had no significant effect on fasting insulin levels (18.9 +/- 14.2 vs. 21.1 +/- 9.6 mlU/l). Weight lost increased significantly (P < 0.008) the plasma concentration of sex-hormone binding-globulin (SHBG) from 21.2 +/- 10.6 to 26.2 +/- 13.5 nmol/l and decreased significantly (P < 0.04) the SHBG-unbound testosterone concentration from 9.3 +/- 6.2 to 7.2 +/- 4.8 ng/dl, without changing the concentrations of the main androgens measured in this study. Moreover, during diet 5 patients in amenorrhea and 8 among 13 patients with irregular menstrual cycle recovered regular menses. We concluded that the control of excess body weight in hirsute women is effective but not sufficient to improve hyperandrogenism.