title: Sex hormone-binding globulin is a major determinant of the lipid profile: the PRIME study.
abstract: The prevalence of coronary heart disease is much higher in men than in women and sex hormones might play a role in these differences through their influence on the lipid profile. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to study the relationship between hormonal markers (total testosterone (TT), estradiol (E2), sex-hormone-binding globulin (SHBG)) and plasma lipids in a population-based sample. Subjects were 352 men, 50-59 years old, selected in France (Lille, Strasbourg and Toulouse) and Northern-Ireland (Belfast) who had questionnaires and a medical examination at baseline of the PRIME prospective study (1991-1993). Pearson correlation coefficients and Student's t tests were used to identify factors associated with plasma lipids. Multiple linear regression models were used for multivariate analyses, using triglycerides (TG) (log-transformed) and high density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) as dependent variables. SHBG and TT were negatively correlated with TG (p<0.0001 and p<0.05, respectively) and positively correlated with HDL-C (p<0.0001 and p<0.01). E2 was positively correlated with TG (p<0.05). No significant association was found between sex-hormones and LDL-C. In multiple linear regression analyses, SHBG remained independently associated negatively with TG (p<0.01) and positively with HDL-C (p<0.0001) after adjustment for centre of recruitment, age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, smoking, alcohol intake and physical activity. After further adjustment for insulin, the association between SHBG and HDL-C remained highly significant (p<0.0001). The association between SHBG and TG was weakened but remained also significant. Our results suggest that SHBG might to be a central protein in the hormonal regulation of the lipid profile.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U 558, Faculté de Médecine, Département d'Epidémiologie, 37 Allées Jules Guesde, 31073 Toulouse cedex, France.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bataille
authors.forename: Bertrand
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Perret
authors.forename: Alun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Amouyel
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arveiler
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ducimetière
authors.forename: Jean-Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bard
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ferrières
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000503:physiopathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008055:Lipids; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol