title: Low serum sex hormone-binding globulin: marker of inflammation?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Low sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) is associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS), but its relationship with inflammation is unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study included 696 subjects (255 men, 235 pre-menopausal women, and 206 postmenopausal women). Body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, lipid profiles, plasma glucose, insulin, FSH, LH, total testosterone (TT), estradiol, SHBG, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), and hs-CRP concentrations were measured. MetS was defined according to the updated National Cholesterol Education Program criteria with modification of waist circumference for Asians.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum hs-CRP and SHBG were negatively correlated in men (r=-0.29, p<0.001), pre-menopausal women (r=-0.38, p<0.001), and postmenopausal women (r=-0.27, p<0.001). In men, TT and hs-CRP showed a negative association (r=-0.25, p<0.001), but the association was attenuated after adjusting for SHBG (r=-0.14, p=0.039). Multivariate regression models showed that SHBG was independently associated with hs-CRP in men (r=-0.18, p=0.009), pre-menopausal women (r=-0.15, p=0.025), and postmenopausal women (r=-0.21, p=0.005), adjusted for age, MetS components, insulin resistance, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and serum sex hormone levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum SHBG and hs-CRP concentrations were inversely correlated in men, pre-menoposal, and post-menopausal women independently.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, School of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chun-Hou
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Hung-Yuan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hong-Jeng
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Han-Sun
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Mao-Shin
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Cyue-Huei
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hua
authors.forename: Wen-Ya
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin