Cross SectionalHumann = 362026China
Association of testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin with fat distribution in men: a quantitative water-fat MRI study.
Plain-language summary
This study looked at how a man's testosterone and SHBG relate to where his body stores fat. SHBG, or sex hormone-binding globulin, is a protein that binds testosterone and sets how much is free and usable, so in men a low level often flags insulin resistance and extra fat. Researchers used MRI to measure fat in specific spots, including visceral fat packed deep around the organs and epicardial fat around the heart, in 26 men with obesity and 10 men at a normal weight, then compared those measurements against their hormone levels. Men carrying more deep organ and heart fat tended to have lower testosterone and lower SHBG.
Key findings
- Obese men had higher fat volumes in belly, under skin, and around heart, and more fat in liver, pancreas, and muscle compared to normal-weight men.
- Obese men had lower total, free, and bioavailable testosterone, and lower SHBG levels.
- Higher belly and heart fat volumes were linked to lower testosterone levels.
- Higher belly fat and liver fat were linked to lower SHBG levels.
How to analyze the study yourself
- Study type
- Cross-sectional studies are good at finding associations at one point in time but cannot show cause and effect.
- Population
- The study included 26 obese men and 10 normal-weight men.
- Funding
- Not reported
- Watch for
- This study found that lower testosterone and lower SHBG went with more fat stored deep around the organs and heart, the kind most tied to metabolic trouble. In men, a higher SHBG and higher testosterone generally point to a healthier, leaner profile. If your testosterone runs low, it is worth having your doctor look at your metabolic health, not just the hormone number.