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Sex hormone binding globulin in saliva
C Selby1, P A Lobb, W J Jeffcoate
1Department of Clinical Chemistry, City Hospital, Nottingham, UK.
Clinical Endocrinology
|January 1, 1988
Summary
Saliva steroid hormone measurements may be unreliable due to binding proteins like sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and albumin. These proteins, present in saliva, can influence steroid concentrations, affecting accuracy compared to plasma levels.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Biochemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Salivary steroid hormone measurement is a convenient alternative to plasma analysis.
- This convenience is based on the assumption that salivary steroids reflect free plasma hormone levels.
- Previous studies could not detect significant steroid-binding proteins in saliva.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and albumin in saliva.
- To determine if salivary SHBG and albumin concentrations correlate with plasma levels.
- To assess the influence of these proteins on salivary steroid hormone accuracy.
Main Methods:
- Quantification of salivary SHBG and albumin in men, non-pregnant women, and pregnant women.
- Comparison of salivary protein concentrations across different groups.
- Correlation analysis between salivary SHBG and albumin levels.
Main Results:
- Salivary albumin concentrations did not differ significantly between groups.
- Salivary SHBG concentrations varied significantly between men and women, and between pregnant and non-pregnant individuals.
- Salivary SHBG and albumin concentrations, though lower than plasma, showed a positive correlation with plasma levels and with each other.
Conclusions:
- Salivary SHBG and albumin likely originate from blood or gingival fluid contamination.
- The presence of these binding proteins in saliva can significantly impact steroid hormone concentrations.
- This protein influence may explain discrepancies between salivary and plasma free hormone levels.