2012/09/11 by Susan R. Davis, Penelope J. Robinson, Alain Moufarege +1
paper · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2265.2011.04301.x
Summary Objective Sex hormone‐binding globulin (SHBG) is a robust predictor of insulin resistance. Whether this is independent of circulating sex steroid levels remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to investigate the determinants of SHBG in postmenopausal women and whether the relationship between SHBG and insulin resistance is independent of oestrogen and androgen levels. Design A cross‐sectional study of naturally and surgically menopausal women. Participants Seven hundred and sixty three postmenopausal women not using any systemic hormone therapy, mean age 54·4 ± 5·8 years, recruited in the US, Canada, Australia, UK and Sweden between July 2004 and February 2005. Measurements Relationships between log‐transformed (ln) SHBG and ln homoeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR) were explored, taking into account age, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP) and circulating oestradiol, oestrone, testosterone and dihydrotestosterone. Results Taking into account age, race, years since menopause, menopause type, BMI, BP, prior postmenopausal hormone use and the sex steroids measured, 34·4% of the variation in SHBG could be explained by the model that included negative contributions by HOMA‐IR, BMI and diastolic BP, and a positive contribution by total testosterone ( P r 2 = 0·3152, P = 0·03). Conclusions The relationship between SHBG and HOMA‐IR, as an estimate of insulin resistance, is not explained by endogenous oestrogen and androgen levels and is, at least in part, independent of BMI in postmenopausal women.