Besides its known function as a transport protein for testosterone and other steroid hormones, sex hormone–binding globulin (SHBG) is a biomarker associated with many adverse health effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of physical activity with SHBG serum levels in older adults. The physical activity and SHBG values for 1,259 older adults (43.4% female; 56.6% male) with a mean age of 75.6 ± 6.5 years were included in the analysis. The average daily walking duration was 104.2 ± 40.4 (mean ± SD) min. A positive dose–response relationship of daily walking duration with quartiles of SHBG was seen after adjustment for age, sex, history of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, smoking, γ-glutamyl transferase, and C-reactive protein (p for trend = .010). However, this relationship disappeared after adjustment for body mass index (p for trend = .977). Body mass index seems to be an important determinant of SHBG and a possible confounding factor in the relationship of physical activity and SHBG.
Physical Activity and Sex Hormone–Binding Globulin in Older Adults
Click name to view affiliation
Search for other papers by Dietrich Rothenbacher in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Dhayana Dallmeier in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Michael D. Denkinger in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Bernhard O. Boehm in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Wolfgang Koenig in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Jochen Klenk in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by ActiFE Study Group* in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
By purchasing this content you agree and accept the terms and conditions
Credit or debit card payments are available without a PayPal account in select
locations. Click the button above to check if this option is available for you.
Rothenbacher and Klenk are with Institute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany. Dallmeier and Denkinger are with Agaplesion Bethesda Clinic Ulm, Geriatric Medicine, Ulm University, Geriatric Center Ulm/Alb-Donau, Ulm, Germany. Boehm is with the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore; and the Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom. Koenig is with Deutsches Herzzentrum München, Technische Universität München, DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany. Klenk is also with the Department of Geriatrics and Geriatric Rehabilitation, Robert-Bosch-Hospital, Stuttgart, Germany and the IB Hochschule Berlin, Studienzentrum Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany.
© 2025 Human Kinetics