Association between serum levels and pentanucleotide polymorphism in the sex hormone binding globulin gene and cardiovascular risk factors in females with polycystic ovary syndrome

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of TAAAA repeat allele length on the levels of serum sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The study included 91 females with PCOS and 99 healthy controls. Phenotypic hyperandrogenism, body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were recorded. Hormonal profiles, fasting insulin and glucose levels, lipid profiles and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured. Genotyping of TAAAA repeat polymorphisms in the SHBG gene was performed. No significant difference was found in the frequency and distribution of TAAAA repeat alleles between PCOS patients and controls (P=0.739). In PCOS patients, SHBG levels were inversely correlated with serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (R=−0.489, P