Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG): a new risk indicator for type 2 diabetes

SHBG and liver enzymes levels are both associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes. However, the relationship between SHBG with liver enzymes and intrahepatic fat content remain poorly understood. To investigate whether SHBG is correlated with glucose and lipids levels and whether this association depends on fatty liver content, liver enzymes or sex hormone concentrations. Professor from university of French wren Fabrice Bonnet and his team conducted a study, the study found that male SHBG metabolic disorders associated with fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c and blood lipid levels significantly, intrahepatic fat may involve in SHBG and the relationship between blood glucose and lipid metabolism.

The study was published in the October 2013 issue of the journal Clinical Endocrinology. In the study, 233 men with metabolic disorders were studied and measured SHBG, total testosterone, 17 beta - estradiol, glucose, adiponectin, hepatase and liver factors. The 108 of these individuals used magnetic resonance imaging to measure liver fat content and visceral fat content.

The results showed that SHBG concentration was negatively correlated with fasting plasma glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and triglycerides, and was positively associated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. These correlations persisted after the correction of total testosterone or 17 beta - estradiol levels. SHBG was not associated with fetal globulin A or fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 21. The negative correlation between SHBG and HbA1c and blood glucose did not change after correcting the liver markers, but the correlation no longer makes sense when the liver fat content is corrected.

The study found that the significant correlation between SHBG and fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c and blood lipid levels was unrelated to the sex hormone and liver function markers, but was dependent on liver fat. This suggests that liver fat (but not altered liver function markers) may involve in SHBG's relationship with blood sugar and blood lipid metabolism.

Second, Monique Hedderson, of Kaiser permanente, and her colleagues analyzed the data about 4,098 women’s health checkup. The correlation between pre-pregnancy SHBG level and GDM risk by Comparing of 256 confirmed GDM women and 97 of them matched against women was assessed. It confirms that SHBG levels increase the risk of diabetes in postmenopausal women, but it is not clear that SHBG levels are associated with glucose tolerance in young women.

Therefore, it is possible to predict type 2 diabetes risk and early prevention by testing human SHBG. Dr. Hedderson applied Human Sex Hormone Binding Protein (SHBG) Enzyme-linked Immunoassay Kit (GLORY SCIENCE CO., LTD, Product NO.: 10222), and measured the level of SHBG in gestation. The results were reliable and worthy of reference.