title: Sex hormone-binding globulin and insulin resistance in African-American women.
abstract: Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) binds testosterone, determining the level of free, biologically active hormone, and is a sensitive indicator of androgen status in women. SHBG is strongly correlated with high-density lipoprotein (HDL), central obesity, and insulin sensitivity in Caucasian and Mexican-American women, thereby acting as a biologic marker for cardiovascular disease risk. The purpose of this study was to determine if SHBG was a significant correlate of metabolic cardiovascular risk factors in African-American women. Eighty-one nondiabetic, normotensive African-American women were enrolled (mean age, 30 years). After excluding women on oral contraceptives (n = 19), 62 women were examined during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. All subjects underwent an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and a euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic insulin clamp, and the lipid and sex hormone levels were measured. Correlation analyses showed a significant correlation between SHBG and the following variables in women: central obesity, body mass index (BMI), HDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein B (apoB), insulin sensitivity adjusted for lean mass (M'), and the sum of insulin during the OGTT. The strongest correlates of SHBG in women were measures of insulin resistance (r = .421, P < .001). SHBG appears to be a biologic marker for insulin resistance, which is linked to cardiovascular risk, in African-American women.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Women's Health, Medical College of Pennsylvania, Allegheny University of the Health Sciences, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sherif
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kushner
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Falkner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D044383:Black People; D001835:Body Weight; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D001741:Black or African American
chemical_list: D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D015415:Biomarkers; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone