Association of the (TAAAA)n repeat polymorphism of SHBG gene with the age at menopause in Greek postmenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the potential association of the pentanucleotide (TAAAA)n repeat polymorphism in the promoter of SHBG gene with the age at menopause in a Greek female population.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study. Two hundred and ten postmenopausal women aged 46-63 years were enrolled. The age at the last menstrual period and anthropometric parameters were recorded in all participants. Blood sampling for genotyping of the (TAAAA)n polymorphism of SHBG gene was performed.


METHODS
Frequency and association of the (TAAAA)n alleles with age at menopause.


RESULTS
The alleles with seven and eight TAAAA repeats were associated with the age at menopause. The age at menopause was higher in carriers than in non-carriers of the (TAAAA)7 allele (50.2±3.1 years vs. 48.0±4.8 years, p=0.026). Furthermore, the age at menopause was lower in women carrying the (TAAAA)8 allele (47.5±4.8 years) than in women not carrying this allele (48.8±4.4 years, p=0.048).


CONCLUSIONS
The (TAAAA)7 and (TAAAA)8 alleles of the SHBG (TAAAA)n polymorphism may contribute to variation in the timing of natural menopause in postmenopausal women of Northwestern Greece.
Department of Endocrinology, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece.
Anastasia E
AE
Markatseli
Laboratory of Human Reproductive Genetics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece.
Elissavet
E
Hatzi
Department of Endocrinology, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece.
Christina
C
Pamporaki
Laboratory of Human Reproductive Genetics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece.
Ioanna
I
Bouba
Department of Endocrinology, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece.
Nectaria
N
Xita
Department of Endocrinology, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece.
Stelios
S
Tigas
Laboratory of Human Reproductive Genetics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece.
Ioannis
I
Georgiou
Department of Endocrinology, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece. Electronic address: atsatsou@uoi.gr.
Agathocles
A
Tsatsoulis
D000367:Age Factors; D000483:Alleles; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D017698:Postmenopause; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000235:genetics*; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics*
D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin
(TAAAA)n repeat polymorphism; Age at menopause; SHBG gene