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

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.

Keywords: child; dyslipidemias; lipids; obesity; sex hormone-binding globulin.

Figure 1

Flowchart of study population. * Objective breast development at ≥ Tanner stage 2 in girls and testicle development at ≥4 mL in boys, and/or luteinizing hormone concentrations of ≥0.2 IU/L, and/or bone age advancement compared to chronological age.

Figure 2

Comparison of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in the prepubertal children by BMI. The “white” bar is the normal group, the “gray” bar is the overweight group, and the “black” bar is the obese group. The number on the bar is the p-value of the Bonferroni test. SHBG: sex hormone-binding globulin; BMI: body mass index.

Figure 3

Comparison of SHBG among dyslipidemia and normal lipid profile groups in prepubertal children (A), boys (B), and girls (C). The “white” bar is the normal lipid group and the “black” bar is the dyslipidemia group. The number on the bar is the p-value. The criteria for dyslipidemia: TC, ≥200 mg/dL; LDL-C, ≥130 mg/dL; TG, ≥100 mg/dL; HDL-C, <40 mg/dL; non-HDL, ≥145 mg/dL; and AIP, >0.15. SHBG: sex hormone-binding globulin; TC: total cholesterol; HDL-C: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL-C: low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; TG: triglycerides; AIP: atherogenic index of plasma.

Figure 4

Scatter plot and fitted line of SHBG and total cholesterol (A), HDL-C (B), LDL-C (C), triglycerides (D), non-HDL-C (E), and Atherogenic index of plasma (F) in all subjects. SHBG: sex hormone-binding globulin; HDL-C: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL-C: low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Figure 4

Scatter plot and fitted line of SHBG and total cholesterol (A), HDL-C (B), LDL-C (C), triglycerides (D), non-HDL-C (E), and Atherogenic index of plasma (F) in all subjects. SHBG: sex hormone-binding globulin; HDL-C: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL-C: low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.