Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin Is Associated with Obesity and Dyslipidemia in Prepubertal Children.

Junghwan Suh,Gihong Park,Ahreum Kwon,Youngha Choi,Jun Suk Oh,Ho-Seong Kim,Kyungchul Song,Hyun Wook Chae,Han Saem Choi

doi:10.3390/children7120272

Junghwan Suh, Gihong Park + Show 7 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/children7120272

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Abstract

Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) is associated with age, sex, and puberty. The association of SHBG with various diseases has been suggested nowadays, however, the relationships in prepubertal children have not been sufficiently investigated. This study analyzed the relationship of SHBG with body mass index (BMI) and plasma lipid levels in prepubertal children. We evaluated the association of SHBG with BMI among the 693 prepubertal children subdivided into normal, overweight, and obese groups, with plasma lipid levels among the children subdivided into normal and dyslipidemia groups. The obese and overweight group had lower SHBG levels than the normal BMI group in both sexes. The dyslipidemia group included subjects with low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), high triglycerides (TG), or a high atherogenic index of plasma (AIP); this group had lower SHBG than the normal lipid group. SHBG was positively correlated with HDL-C, and negatively correlated with TG and AIP. After adjusting for BMI, SHBG was positively correlated with HDL-C and negatively correlated with TG and AIP in all groups. In conclusion, SHBG levels are closely correlated with BMI in prepubertal children. SHBG may play a meaningful role in the decrease in HDL-C and increase in TG during prepubertal age.

Highlights

Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), a circulating glycoprotein that binds testosterone and estradiol with high affinity, is produced primarily in the hepatocytes of the liver [1]
We evaluated the association of with children subdivided into normal, overweight, and obese groups, and plasma lipidamong levels the among the children subdivided into overweight, and obese groups, and with plasma lipid levels among the children subdivided normal and dyslipidemia groups
Our study showed a positive correlation between SHBG and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and a negative correlation between SHBG and TG and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) in prepubertal children

Summary

Introduction

Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), a circulating glycoprotein that binds testosterone and estradiol with high affinity, is produced primarily in the hepatocytes of the liver [1]. SHBG levels are negatively associated with adiposity and chronic inflammation as well as a high-protein diet [3,4]. Functional HNF4α-binding sites are found in over 140 genes involved in the metabolism of glucose and lipids and in the proximal promoter of the SHBG gene [2]. SHBG has been associated with various metabolic disorders. A retrospective study of 141 men reported that lower SHBG levels were related to a higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome [5]. Another study reported that SHBG levels were negatively correlated with a risk of type 2 diabetes [6]. Severities of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease were negatively related to SHBG levels in a study of adult patients with type 2 diabetes [7]

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