Sex hormone-binding globulin as an independent predictor of incident type 2 diabetes mellitus in men

Abstract

Background: Low levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and total testosterone (T) in men have been associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). As total T and SHBG levels are highly correlated, we determined whether SHBG influences the risk of T2DM through T or whether SHBG is an independent predictor of T2DM.

Methods: Longitudinal analyses were conducted on men participating in the Massachusetts Male Aging Study, a population-based study of men aged 40-70 years. Of 1,709 men enrolled in 1987-1989, 1,156 were evaluated 7-10 years later and 853 after 15-17 years. Analyses were restricted to 1,128 men without T2DM at baseline.

Results: Ninety new cases of T2DM were identified. After adjustment for age, body mass index, hypertension, smoking, alcohol intake, and physical activity, the hazard ratio (HR) for incident T2DM was 2.0 for each 1 SD decrease in SHBG (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.42-2.82, p < .001) and 1.29 for each 1 SD decrease in total T (95% CI, 1.01-1.66, p = .04). Free T was not associated with T2DM (HR = 1.03, 95% CI, 0.81-1.31, p = .79). The strong association of T2DM risk with SHBG persisted even after additional adjustment for free T (HR = 2.04, 95% CI, 1.44-2.87, p < .0001) or total T (HR = 1.95, 95% CI, 1.34-2.82, p = .0004).

Conclusions: SHBG is an independent predictor of incident T2DM even after adjusting for free T or total T. Free T is not significantly associated with T2DM. SHBG may contribute to the risk of T2DM through nonandrogenic mechanisms, which should be investigated as they may provide novel targets for diabetes prevention.

Figure 1.

Age- and body mass index–adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for incident type 2 diabetes mellitus associated with hormone quartile. Participants with hormone values in the 4th quartile serve as the reference category (HR = 1.00). Dashed line represents the reference line, where HR = 1.00.