Basal Endogenous Steroid Hormones, Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin, Physical Fitness, and Health Risk Factors in Young Adult Men

• Published in: Frontiers in physiology 2018-07, Vol.9, p.1005-1005
• Main Authors: Gagnon, Sheila S, Nindl, Bradley C, Vaara, Jani P, Santtila, Matti, Häkkinen, Keijo, Kyröläinen, Heikki
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: aerobic capacity; cardiovascular health; cortisol; Physiology; sex hormone-binding globulin; testosterone; waist circumference
• ISSN: 1664-042X; 1664-042X
• DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.01005

Few large-scale population-based studies have adequately examined the relationships between steroid hormones, health status and physical fitness. The purpose of the study was to describe the relationship of serum basal endogenous steroid hormones (testosterone, TES; empirical free testosterone, EFT; cortisol, COR) and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) to body composition, cardiovascular risk factors, and physical fitness in young healthy men. Male reservists (25 ± 4 years, = 846) participated in the study. Basal TES, EFT, COR, and SHBG were measured in morning fasted blood. Stepwise regression analyses were used to examine associations between individual hormones to four separate categories: (1) body composition; (2) cardiovascular risk factors; (3) relative, and (4) absolute physical fitness. Higher TES, EFT, and SHBG were associated with lower waist circumference (TES: β = -0.239, < 0.001; EFT: β = -0.385, < 0.001), % body fat (TES: β = -0.163, = 0.003), and body mass index (SHBG: β = -0.435, < 0.001). Lower cardiovascular risk factors were associated with higher TES, EFT and SHBG concentrations, especially between SHBG and triglycerides (β = -0.277, < 0.001) and HDL (β = 0.154, < 0.001). Greater maximal relative aerobic capacity was concurrent with higher TES, EFT, and SHBG (β = 0.171, 0.113, 0.263, < 0.001, =0.005,