Sex hormone-binding globulin levels predict insulin sensitivity, disposition index, and cardiovascular risk during puberty.
OBJECTIVE
Early puberty is associated with increased risk of subsequent cardiovascular disease. Low sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels are a feature of early puberty and of conditions associated with increased cardiovascular risk. The aim of the present study was to evaluate SHBG as a predictor of glucose metabolism and metabolic risk during puberty.


METHODS
This was a cross-sectional study on 132 healthy Caucasian children and adolescents evaluated by an oral glucose tolerance test, a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan, direct oxygen uptake measurement during cycle ergometry, and fasting blood samples.


RESULTS
SHBG levels declined with advancement of puberty in both boys (P < 0.001) and girls (P = 0.019). SHBG was significantly positively associated with insulin sensitivity in boys (P < 0.001) and girls (P < 0.001). In addition, SHBG was a strong predictor of insulin sensitivity (P = 0.001) and the only predictor of the disposition index (P = 0.031) after adjustment for puberty, fat mass, and aerobic fitness. SHBG was significantly negatively associated with metabolic risk (P = 0.032) and with hypersensitive C-reactive protein levels (P = 0.030) after adjustment for relevant confounders.


CONCLUSIONS
SHBG was a strong predictor of insulin sensitivity and metabolic risk during puberty. Thus, we hypothesize that SHBG integrates the marked changes in glucose metabolism and body composition that occur during the pubertal transition.
Sørensen
Kaspar
K
Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark. kaspar.soerensen@rh.regionh.dk
Aksglaede
Lise
L
Munch-Andersen
Thor
T
Aachmann-Andersen
Niels Jacob
NJ
Petersen
Joergen Holm
JH
Hilsted
Linda
L
Helge
Jørn Wulff
JW
Juul
Anders
A
D000293:Adolescent; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D001823:Body Composition; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003718:Denmark; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011627:Puberty; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D044465:White People
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein