The association between sex hormone-binding globulin and type 2 diabetes in Nigerian men.

Fayefori M Abbiyesuku,Augustine N Agbakwuru,Olatunbosun O Olawale

doi:10.4102/ajlm.v2i1.44

Abstract

BackgroundEpidemiological studies have shown that sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) has a role in glucose homeostasis in both men and women. However, a prospective study on Japanese-American subjects concluded that SHBG was not a significant risk factor in either men or women, suggesting ethnic differences. We were not aware of any evaluation of SHBG in subjects of African ancestry.ObjectivesWe investigated the association between SHBG and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic diabetic men in a hospital in Nigeria.MethodForty-eight male subjects with type 2 diabetes and 20 non-diabetic male subjects were recruited in this cross-sectional hospital-based study by the convenient sampling method. Height and circumferences around the waist and hip were measured to the nearest 0.5 cm and the waist–hip ratio was calculated from this measurement. Weight was measured and body mass index was calculated. Fasting plasma glucose concentration was measured by the glucose oxidase method with a between-run coefficient of variation of 3%. Insulin and SHBG were measured by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).ResultsThere was a statistically-significant difference between test results for the diabetic and non-diabetic patients. The mean SHBG concentration was higher in the non-diabetic group (42.2 nmol/L) than the diabetic group (30.5 nmol/L). A significant inverse association between insulin resistance and SHBG was observed (r = 0.353, p < 0.015).ConclusionThis study supported earlier observations that a significant inverse correlation exists between SHBG and insulin resistance and provides evidence that the relationship may extend to type 2 diabetic men of African ancestry in Nigeria.

Highlights

Diabetes mellitus has been recognised as a disease for more than 3500 years, since its description in the Eber Papyrus in 1552BC.[1]
There are four important findings that can be drawn from this study: 1. We found a weak inverse correlation between the serum concentration of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and insulin resistance amongst our group of Nigerian men with type 2 diabetes
There was no significant correlation between insulin resistance and body mass index (BMI)/waist–hip ratio (WHR) amongst type 2 diabetic men in this study

Summary

Introduction

Diabetes mellitus has been recognised as a disease for more than 3500 years, since its description in the Eber Papyrus in 1552BC.[1] Surviving texts from the ancient Greeks, Chinese, Indians, and Persians refer to the disease, which was subsequently named diabetes mellitus It is defined as a metabolic disorder of multiple aetiologies, characterised by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbance of carbohydrate, fat, protein, water and electrolyte metabolism which result from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action or both.[2] Much of the morbidity and mortality burden of diabetes mellitus is due to the acute and chronic complications that often arise. A prospective study on Japanese-American subjects concluded that SHBG was not a significant risk factor in either men or women, suggesting ethnic differences. We were not aware of any evaluation of SHBG in subjects of African ancestry

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Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion