Testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin, calculated free testosterone, and oestradiol in male vegans and omnivores.
Total testosterone (T), total oestradiol (E2) and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) concentrations were measured in plasma samples from fifty-one male vegans and fifty-seven omnivores of similar age. Free T concentration was estimated by calculation. In comparison with the omnivores, the vegans had 7% higher total T (P = 0.250), 23% higher SHBG (P = 0.001), 3% lower free T (P = 0.580), and 11% higher E2 (P = 0.194). In a subset of eighteen vegans and twenty-two omnivores for whom 4 d diet records were available, there were statistically significant correlations between T and polyunsaturated fatty acids (r 0.37), SHBG and fat (r 0.43 for total fat, 0.46 for saturated fatty acids and 0.33 for polyunsaturated fatty acids), and SHBG and alcohol (r-0.39). It is concluded that a vegan diet causes a substantial increase in SHBG but has little effect on total or free T or on E2.
Key
T J
TJ
Cancer Epidemiology Unit, Imperial Cancer Research Fund, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford.
Roe
L
L
Thorogood
M
M
Moore
J W
JW
Clark
G M
GM
Wang
D Y
DY
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004032:Diet; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol