The objective of the present study was to investigate the associations of testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) with metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance in men. The data analyzed were from a subsample (n=1,226) of the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). Results showed that men with lower concentrations of total testosterone and SHBG were more at risk of developing metabolic syndrome than those with higher concentrations. Moreover, total testosterone and SHBG were stronger correlates of metabolic syndrome than calculated free testosterone (CFT) and calculated bioavailable testosterone (CBT) after adjustment for confounding variables. Inverse associations were also found between total testosterone, SHBG, CFT, as well as CBT and HOMA-IR and fasting plasma insulin which are markers of insulin resistance. Thus, these results indicate that low concentrations of total testosterone and SHBG are strongly associated with metabolic syndrome after adjusting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors and insulin resistance.
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