Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Symposium 4: Sex Hormone Abnormalities
  • Published:

Symposium 4: Sex hormone abnormalities

Synthesis and regulation of sex hormone-binding globulin in obesity

Abstract

Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) is a plasma glycoprotein with high binding affinity for testosterone and dihydrotestosterone and lower affinity for estradiol. SHBG is synthesized in the liver, and its plasma level is important in the regulation of plasma free and albumin-bound androgens and estrogens. Obesity and particularly excess visceral fat, known risk factors for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, are associated with decreased testosterone levels in males and SHBG levels in both sexes. SHBG is usually positively correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and negatively correlated with triglyceride and insulin concentrations. A positive association between SHBG and various measures of insulin sensitivity has been demonstrated in both sexes, suggesting that decreased SHBG levels may be one of the components of the metabolic syndrome. We have examined pituitary–adrenocortical function, glucose tolerance, and lipoprotein and hormone levels in a large cohort of Finnish males. Abdominal obesity appears to be associated with slight hypocortisolemia and increased sensitivity to exogenous adrenocorticotropin stimulation, which may contribute to the hyperinsulinemia and related metabolic changes including decreased SHBG levels in males.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A Hautanen.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hautanen, A. Synthesis and regulation of sex hormone-binding globulin in obesity. Int J Obes 24 (Suppl 2), S64–S70 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801281

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801281

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Quick links