Serum androgens and sex hormone binding globulin in obese Pima Indian females

Abstract

Levels of serum androgens and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) were measured in 20 obese Pima Indian females aged 19-44 and compared with those of normal-weight Caucasians aged 20-46. The Pima exhibited significantly decreased SHBG compared to Caucasians, but a strong effect of age on androgen levels rendered mean comparisons useless. Androstenedione (A) and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S) decreased significantly, and testosterone (T) declined slightly with age in the Pima, whereas these androgens showed no significant decreases in Caucasians for this age range. A possible relationship of androgens to the Pima female's propensity for android obesity as well as possible effects of obesity on SHBG, and aging is discussed.

Genetics And Public Health In The 1990s

“…A significant inverse correlation between SHBG and body weight has been found (26). Results consistent with this inverse correlation have also been reported from com parisons of obese men and women with lean controls (68), and there is some evidence of an association with the distribution of body fat as well (31,97).…”

The impact of obesity on hyperandrogenism and polycystic ovary syndrome in premenopausal women*

“…Other mechanisms by which insulin may increase endoge-nous androgens in women probably involve the regulation of SHBG synthesis and metabolism. As stated in the previous paragraph, SHBG levels are usually lower than normal in obese women (Kopelman et al, 1980;Glass et al, 1981;Purifoy et a[., 1981), in particular in those with abdominal body fat distribution (Evans et al, 1983;Kissebah & Pairis, 1988). Decreased SHBG concentrations are present also in women with PCOS (Plymate et al, 1981).…”

“…The urinary excretion rate of 17-ketosteroids (17KS) may be high and the concentrations of sex hormonebinding globulin (SHBG), the principal binding globulin of the major androgens, are usually lower than the levels found in normal weight women (Glass et al, 1981). In peripheral blood, the levels of the main androgens are high only in obese women with amenorrhoea (Zhang et al, 1984) but are normal in those with regular menstrual cycles (Glass et al, 1981;PUrifoy et al, 1981). SHBG levels are inversely correlated with body weight index in both premenopausal and post-menopausal obese women (Glass et al, 1981;Purifoy et al, 1981;Pasquali et al, 1987).…”

“…In peripheral blood, the levels of the main androgens are high only in obese women with amenorrhoea (Zhang et al, 1984) but are normal in those with regular menstrual cycles (Glass et al, 1981;PUrifoy et al, 1981). SHBG levels are inversely correlated with body weight index in both premenopausal and post-menopausal obese women (Glass et al, 1981;Purifoy et al, 1981;Pasquali et al, 1987). Since not all obese women have reduced levels of SHBG, in spite of similar circulating androgen levels and similar degrees of excess body weight, it has been suggested that factors other than excess body fat could be involved in the metabolic regulation of SHBG synthesis or metabolism.…”

The Prevalence of Clinical Characteristics of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome among Indigenous Women: A Systematic Search and Review of the Literature

“…The study characteristics and PICO framework of the 13 included studies (all English, published between 1981 and 2018) are summarized in ►Table 1. Eight studies (61.5%) had a cross-sectional design, [27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34] while the rest employed a case-control, 35,36 cohort study, 37 RCT, 38 or mixed methods design. 39 Five studies were conducted in Australia, [28][29][30]37,39 five in the United States, 27,31,32,35,38 two in Sri Lanka, 33,36 and one in New Zealand.…”