Metabolic Function of Prolactin Hormone in the Male and Female Reproductive Systems: a Narrative Review

Evidence suggests that prolactin and metabolic disorders have a significant impact on the pathophysiology of reproductive disorders in both males and females. This study aimed to summarize the existing literature in this field. In this review, we followed the SANRA checklist to compile relevant studies, and a search was performed until January 2023 using relevant keywords in PubMed, Web of Science, SID, Magiran, and Google Scholar. All articles related to the purpose of the current study were extracted and evaluated by the authors. The available evidence indicates that relatively high prolactin levels within the physiological range appear to be beneficial for metabolism. Dysregulation of this hormone, such as in hyperprolactinemia, can lead to various adverse metabolic effects, including insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, anovulation, defects in gonadotropin secretion, and sexual dysfunction. On the other hand, suppressed levels of prolactin can also disrupt both the reproductive and metabolic systems. The complex interaction between prolactin and metabolic markers in the body is believed to play an important role in metabolic and reproductive health. However, the optimal level of prolactin that reflects metabolic health and fertility in both genders remains unknown. Further research is needed to determine the factors that determine the metabolic role of prolactin in the reproductive system.