Endocrinology & Metabolic Syndrome
Open Access

Testosterone and SHBG levels in post-menarcheal teenage girls in relation to known cardiovascular risk markers: Evidence from two large European birth cohorts

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Conference

November 16-18, 2015 Seattle, USA

Hany Lashen

Medical School of the University of Sheffield, UK

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: Endocrinol Metab Syndr

Abstract :

Low and high testosterone is associated with higher CVD risk in men and postmenopausal women respectively. Several studies linked PCOS to cardiovascular disease risk through high testosterone and insulin. We investigated the relationship between testosterone and SHBG levels and known cardiovascular risk markers in post-menarcheal teenage girls in two well characterized European birth cohorts; ALSPAC (Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children) and NFBC-86 (North Finland Birth Cohort-1986). Serum testosterone was assayed using mass spectrometry at age 15-16 years. Serum sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) was assayed using commercial kits. Total testosterone and SHBG were correlated with known cardiovascular markers; blood pressure, anthropometric measures, body fat composition (ALSPAC only), serum lipid profile, high sensitivity C-reactive protein and insulin in 1081 and 1312 girls from the ALSPAC and NFBC-86 cohorts respectively. After adjusting for age of menarche and BMI, total testosterone correlated with HDL-cholesterol and negatively with hs-CRP in the ALPSAC cohort. In the NFBC-86, total testosterone correlated with HDL-cholesterol and diastolic and systolic blood pressure; however it negatively correlated with hs-CRP. SHBG correlated with total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol in the ALSPAC group. However it correlated negatively with insulin and hs-CRP. In the NFBC-86, SHBG correlated with total cholesterol (LDL and HDL) and hs-CRP. However it negatively correlated with triglycerides and insulin. Accordingly, teenage girls� high total testosterone and SHBG are associated with a favorable cardio-vascular risk markers profiles. There is confirmation from both European cohorts and evidence of population differences. The negative relationship between SHBG and insulin is evident in teenage years.

Biography :

Email: h.lashen@sheffield.ac.uk