Low serum sex hormone-binding globulin: marker of inflammation?

Low sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) is associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS), but its relationship with inflammation is unclear.

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.

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.

Serum SHBG and hs-CRP concentrations were inversely correlated in men, pre-menoposal, and post-menopausal women independently.