Background: The concentrations of the globulin binding of sexual hormones (GBSH) and serum and saliva testosterone were studied, as well as the free testosterone index (FTI), in a group of 75 premenopausic women of 42 years of age. These concentrations were correlated with the body mass index (BMI) and the relationship between the waist and hip perimeters (WHI) as an index of body fat distribution.
Material and methods: Anthropometric measurements were performed in all the women studied. The BMI was used to classify the women as obese or not obese, while the WHI was used to classify fat distribution as android or gynoid type. The hormone determinations were carried out by radioimmunoassay and the GBSH by fluorescence immunoassay.
Results: A significant positive correlation was observed between FTI and BMI (p = 0.024) and a negative correlation was seen between GBSH and WHI (p = 0.024). A significant decrease was found in the GBSH levels in obese women with respect to those who were not obese (p = 0.025) and between those with android fat distribution versus gynoid fat distribution (p = 0.032).
Conclusions: The modifications observed in the concentrations of the globulin binding sexual hormone in obese premenopausic women and the absence of the same in the free testosterone indexes may be explained because of other steroids such as androstenodiol and dehydrotestosterone are elevated. The measurement of globulin binding sexual hormone concentrations may be an early marker of alteration in the androgenic status in obese women.