D Goodman-Gruen1, E Barrett-Connor. 1. Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, C 92093-0628, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: In pre and postmenopausal women low levels of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) have been shown to be associated with a large waist-hip ratio (WHR), a measure of visceral adiposity. Previous studies of WHR and testosterone, however, have been inconclusive. DESIGN: We examined the prospective association between endogenous total and bioavailable testosterone and SHBG levels at baseline with WHR measured 12-15 years later in a community-based cohort of older women. SETTING: Rancho Bernardo, California. SUBJECTS: 334 postmenopausal women. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Endogenous total and bioavailable testosterone and SHBG levels and WHR. RESULTS: Only age-adjusted SHBG levels and the testosterone/SHBG ratio were associated with BMI. Age-adjusted SHBG levels and total testosterone decreased with increasing WHR. Neither measured nor estimated (testosterone/SHBG ratio) bioavailable testosterone was associated with WHR before or after adjustment for age, BMI, and cigarette smoking. CONCLUSION: These prospective data confirm the reported cross-sectional association between SHBG and WHR, but show no association with measured bioavailable testosterone or the testosterone/SHBG ratio. These findings do not support the premise that androgens cause visceral adiposity in postmenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE: In pre and postmenopausal women low levels of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) have been shown to be associated with a large waist-hip ratio (WHR), a measure of visceral adiposity. Previous studies of WHR and testosterone, however, have been inconclusive. DESIGN: We examined the prospective association between endogenous total and bioavailable testosterone and SHBG levels at baseline with WHR measured 12-15 years later in a community-based cohort of older women. SETTING: Rancho Bernardo, California. SUBJECTS: 334 postmenopausal women. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Endogenous total and bioavailable testosterone and SHBG levels and WHR. RESULTS: Only age-adjusted SHBG levels and the testosterone/SHBG ratio were associated with BMI. Age-adjusted SHBG levels and total testosterone decreased with increasing WHR. Neither measured nor estimated (testosterone/SHBG ratio) bioavailable testosterone was associated with WHR before or after adjustment for age, BMI, and cigarette smoking. CONCLUSION: These prospective data confirm the reported cross-sectional association between SHBG and WHR, but show no association with measured bioavailable testosterone or the testosterone/SHBG ratio. These findings do not support the premise that androgens cause visceral adiposity in postmenopausal women.
Authors: Wei Shen; Mark Punyanitya; Analiza M Silva; Jun Chen; Dympna Gallagher; Luís B Sardinha; David B Allison; Steven B Heymsfield Journal: Nutr Metab (Lond) Date: 2009-04-16 Impact factor: 4.169