Serum prolactin levels were positively related to metabolic indexes and disorders in male obese patients

Purpose The role of prolactin (PRL) in glucolipid metabolism was inconsistent, and there were few studies on the metabolic role of PRL in obese patients. The study aims to explore association between PRL level and metabolic disorders in male obese patients. Methods A retrospective study was conducted. Eighty-nine male patients with obesity were included, and their clinical data were recorded. Results A total of 89 male obese patients were included in this study. Their average age was 24.5 +/- 9.0 years and BMI was 42.8 +/- 9.1 kg/m(2). The average waist circumference and body fat percentage was 129.6 +/- 19.6 cm and 42.9 +/- 8.0%, respectively. The median prolactin levels were 10.0 ng/ml (range: 3.93-30.1 ng/ml). 79.0% (49/62) of these patients presented with NAFLD and 77.3% (68/88) of them was dyslipidemia. Further, serum prolactin level was positively correlated with BMI (r = 0.225, P = 0.034), body fat percentage (r = 0.326, P = 0.017), ALT (r = 0.273, P = 0.011) and AST (r = 0.245, P = 0.029). Compared with low PRL group (<10 ng/ml), the incidence of morbid obesity and NAFLD was higher in high PRL group (morbid obesity: 71.1% vs 45.5%, P = 0.018 and NAFLD: 91.2% vs 64.3%, P = 0.013). In addition, the risk of NAFLD and morbid obesity in high PRL group (>10 ng/ml) was higher than low PRL group (OR:5.187, 95%CI 1.194-22.544, P = 0.028 and OR: 4.375, 95% CI 1.595-11.994, P = 0.004). The increased risk of NAFLD and morbid obesity in the high PRL group still existed after adjusting for age and Testosterone. Conclusion Serum prolactin levels were positively associated with deterioration of metabolic indexes in male obese patients, as well as NAFLD and morbid obesity.