THE IMPACT OF OBESITY ON HORMONAL PARAMETERS IN HIRSUTE AND NONHIRSUTE WOMEN

The influence of obesity on sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and an drogen concentrations in hirsute and nonhirsute women has been evaluat ed. The study was performed in 226 hirsute women (88 obese and 138 non -obese) classified as being affected by polycystic ovarian syndrome (P COS) or by idiopathic hirsutism (IH) and in 100 nonhirsute control wom an ([C] 60 lean and 40 obese). SHBG, free testosterone (fT), androsten edione (A), estradiol (E2), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), an d gonadotropin levels were measured during the first week of the menst rual cycle by radioimmunoassay (RIA). A significant negative correlati on between SHBG and body mass index (BMI) was observed in PCOS, IH, an d C women. In obese women-whether PCOS, IH, or C-fT levels were signif icantly higher and, conversely, SHBG levels were lower than in non-obe se women. A negative correlation between SHBG and fT was evidenced in each group. Upper body obesity was associated with lower SHBG and high er fT levels than lower-body obesity. In conclusion, obesity, particul arly upper-body obesity, is associated with a reduction in SHBG and an increase in fT in both nonhirsute and hirsute women. Copyright (C) 19 96 by W.B. Saunders Company