title: Sex hormone-binding globulin and the risk for metabolic syndrome in children of South Asian Indian origin.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether the plasma level of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) identifies South Asian Indian children at risk for metabolic syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adults and their children aged 5 to 9 years were recruited at the annual health fair at the Hindu temple serving the South Asian Indian community in Louisville, Kentucky. Anthropometric data were collected in adults and children, and blood pressure, lipid, and glucose levels were measured in adults. SHBG levels were measured in children using a fingerstick blood sample. In adults, metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according to the International Diabetes Federation criteria. Twelve months later, follow-up anthropometric data were obtained for a portion of the children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 30 sets of parents and 30 children. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome among 310 adults attending the health fair was 42% in men and 39% in women. Children with 1 parent with metabolic syndrome had 24% lower SHBG levels that increased to 55% if both parents had metabolic syndrome. SHBG levels were inversely related to waist circumference and to body mass index percentile. Both SHBG and waist circumference predicted weight gain over 1 year in children. CONCLUSIONS Low SHBG levels were found in South Asian Indian children whose parents had attributes of metabolic syndrome. The dose dependency of SHBG is consistent with inheritance of a genetic trait, and if the results are applicable to other racial/ethnic groups, SHBG may be a useful marker to identify at-risk children for early intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, USA. sskris01@louisville.edu
authors.forename: Sathya S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Krishnasamy
authors.forename: Chih
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Chenxi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Raina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chandiramani
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Winters
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin