BACKGROUND: Low circulating levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) have been shown to be a direct and strong risk factor for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and hormone-dependent cancers, although the relation between various aspects of dietary carbohydrates and SHBG levels remains unexplored in population studies. METHODS: Among postmenopausal women with available SHBG measurements at baseline (n = 11,159) in the Women's Health Initiative, we conducted a comprehensive assessmen...

Recent studies suggest that high homocysteine levels are associated with an increased risk of fractures. Homocysteine levels are known to be influenced by vitamin B and folate supply or status, and poor renal function can result in higher levels independent of nutritional adequacy.The aim of the study was to determine the associations between fasting homocysteine levels and incident hip fractures, and the effects of other factors on hip fracture risk.We conducted a case-control study in the Wome...

Endogenous estradiol, testosterone, and SHBG may influence the risk of hip fracture.From the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study, 39,793 eligible postmenopausal women did not have a previous hip fracture and were not using estrogen or other bone-active therapies. Of these, 400 who had a first-time nonpathological hip fracture (median follow-up, 7 yr) were matched to 400 controls by age, ethnicity, and baseline blood draw date. Estradiol, testosterone, and SHBG were measured in banked b...

To evaluate the association between chronic kidney disease and incident hip fracture using serum cystatin-C as a biomarker of renal function calculated without reference to muscle mass.Case-control study nested within a prospective study.The Women's Health Initiative Observational Study conducted at 40 U.S. clinical centers.From 93,676 women aged 50 to 79 followed for an average of 7 years, 397 incident hip fracture cases and 397 matched controls were studied.Cystatin-C levels were measured on b...

Circulating concentrations of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) have been associated with cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and hormone-dependent cancers; however, correlates of SHBG concentrations are not well understood.We comprehensively investigated correlates of SHBG concentrations among 13 547 women who participated in the Women's Health Initiative and who had SHBG measurements. We estimated study- and ethnicity-specific associations of age, reproductive histo...

Abstract Background and Purpose- Circulating levels of SHBG (sex hormone-binding globulin) have been inversely linked to obesity, diabetes mellitus, and other cardiometabolic disorders. It remains uncertain whether low SHBG is prospectively predictive of stroke risk, particularly in women. We investigated whether SHBG is associated with risk of incident ischemic stroke (IS) among women in the WHI (Women's Health Initiative). Methods- From an observational cohort of 161 808 postmenopausal women e...