title: Sex differences in the associations of testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin with metabolic syndrome in middle-aged and elderly Koreans: the Namwon study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We investigated the sex-dependent associations of testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels with metabolic syndrome (MetS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We conducted a cross-sectional study of 9,424 community-dwelling adults aged 45-74 years (median age, 63.7 years). MetS was defined according to the updated version of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Serum total testosterone (TT) and SHBG levels were determined using a chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay, and free testosterone (FT) concentrations were calculated. In a multivariate analysis, TT levels were inversely associated with MetS in men (odds ratio [OR] of each standard deviation increase in the logarithmic value, 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.65-0.76), whereas they were positively associated in women (OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.10-1.24). FT levels were positively associated with MetS in women only (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.30-1.49). However, SHBG levels were negatively associated with MetS in both men (OR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.52-0.61) and women (OR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.57-0.66).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data showed that higher TT levels were associated with a reduced prevalence of MetS in men and an elevated prevalence of MetS in women. Higher SHBG levels were associated with decreased prevalence of MetS in both sexes. These results suggest sex differences in the associations of endogenous testosterone and SHBG with MetS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sun-Seog
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kweon
authors.forename: Min-Ho
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Hae-Sung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: Seul-Ki
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Kyeong-Soo
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jin-Su
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Young-Hoon
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012737:Sex Factors; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013739:Testosterone