Sex hormone-binding globulin levels and metabolic syndrome and its features in adolescents.
BACKGROUND
Low levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) are associated with obesity, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome (MS) in men and women, and it has been suggested that SHBG could be a useful marker for MS risk.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship of SHBG levels with MS and its components in Spanish adolescents.


METHODS
The sample population of this cross-sectional study was comprised of 386 male and 429 female adolescents, aged 12-16 yr. Anthropometric parameters and blood pressure (BP) were measured. Total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, insulin, glucose, and SHBG levels were determined. The pediatric International Diabetes Federation (IDF) definition was used to classify adolescents for MS.


RESULTS
SHBG levels were lower in adolescents with MS or with some MS features. More than 90% of the abdominally obese adolescents were in the lowest and medium SHBG tertiles. In girls, BP was significantly higher in the lowest SHBG tertile than in the two others, whereas in boys BP levels were significantly higher in the lowest and medium tertiles than in the highest one. Insulin levels and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index were also significantly higher in the lowest SHBG tertile than in the two others.


CONCLUSIONS
The associations of SHBG with MS and its components, such as abdominal obesity, high BP or insulin levels, are already present in normal adolescents. This may suggest the possibility of using SHBG levels as a biomarker for MS risk in adolescents as well as adults.
de Oya
Iria
I
Lipid Research Laboratory, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
Schoppen
Stefanie
S
Lasunción
Miguel A
MA
Lopez-Simon
Laura
L
Riestra
Pía
P
de Oya
Manuel
M
Garcés
Carmen
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D013030:Spain
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D002784:Cholesterol