FACTORS RELATED TO SEX-HORMONE BINDING GLOBULIN CONCENTRATIONS IN WOMEN WITH ANOREXIA-NERVOSA

The published reports concerning serum levels of sex hormone binding g lobulin (SHBG) in women with anorexia nervosa are few in number and co ntroversial. Indeed, very little is known of the factors influencing S HBG concentrations in these patients. In an attempt to clarify this pr oblem we evaluated serum levels of SHBG, estradiol, testosterone, lute inizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, triiodothyronine, thyro xine, their free fractions and insulin in 19 women with anorexia nervo sa. Plasma glucose levels, total protein, triglycerides and cholestero l were also studied. Seven healthy women with normal weight and regula r menstrual cycles served as controls. The serum concentrations of SHB G in patients with anorexia nervosa (165.27 +/- 63.5 nmol/l) were sign ificantly higher (p < 0.01) than those in the control group (96.21 +/- 38.04 nmol/l), but the levels of estradiol, testosterone, free triiod othyronine and the ratio of testosterone to SHBG were significantly lo wer. An inverse correlation between SHBG and body weight (r = -0.761) was found in the patients. The alterations in SHBG concentrations were not associated with the changes in testosterone, gonadotropins, thyro id hormones and biochemical parameters. These findings suggest that bo dy weight is one of the more important factors influencing the SHBG co ncentrations in women with anorexia nervosa.