Can High Levels Of Prolactin Cause Weight Gain?

Prolactin is a hormone that is produced by the pituitary gland. The main function of this hormone is to stimulate milk production in females after the delivery of the child. It is common for prolactin levels to increase during pregnancy, but it steadily comes down after the delivery of the child and also once the female stops breast feeding. However, in certain situations the levels of prolactin remain high irrespective of whether the female is pregnant or not. This condition is called as hyperprolactinemia.

The main cause of the high levels of prolactin is a benign tumor of the pituitary gland called pituitary adenoma. Other than this, certain other medical conditions may also cause an increase in the levels of prolactin in the blood. Certain medications like antipsychotics also cause an increase in the levels of prolactin. Apart from females, in some cases even males have been identified as having high prolactin levels causing erectile dysfunction.

Some of the other causes of high levels of prolactin in the blood are:

• Hypothyroidism
• Liver cirrhosis
• Chronic renal dysfunction

Any female that has been recently diagnosed with high prolactin levels and has no factors responsible for it like pregnancy is weary of whether high levels of prolactin may be a reason for significant weight gain. This article will help clear the doubt whether high levels of prolactin cause weight gain or not.

Various studies conducted across the globe have come to a conclusion that high levels of prolactin has a direct link with an individual gaining weight or being overweight. This increase in weight was irrespective of the cause of the increase in the prolactin levels and the degree of obesity. Researchers thus have recommended close monitoring of BMI of individuals with high prolactin levels and taking measures to maintain an ideal body weight so as to prevent any complications from occurring as a result of increased body weight due high prolactin levels.

In conclusion, the answer to the question of whether high prolactin levels cause weight gain is, yes, in that various researchers are of the opinion that high prolactin levels are directly linked to an increase in weight. They have come to this conclusion after conducting a battery of studies with various subjects of different age groups and variable weights which have confirmed a significant increase in the weight and overall BMI of individuals with high levels of prolactin in the blood.

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Also Read:

• Can High Prolactin Levels Result In Infertility?