High triglyceride to HDL cholesterol ratio is associated with low testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin levels in Middle-aged and elderly men

Objective: We investigated the association between the triglycerides to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL) ratio and low testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels in middle-aged and elderly men. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1055 men aged >= 45 years who underwent a medical examination. The cutoff points for low testosterone and SHBG levels were determined as 12.2 and 29.4 nmol/L, which corresponded to the 25th percentile of the current sample. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for low testosterone and SHBG levels were calculated after adjusting for confounding variables across TG/HDL ratio quartiles (Q1: <= 1.70, Q2: 1.71-2.54, Q3: 2.55-3.77, Q4: >= 3.78) using multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: The proportion of subjects with low testosterone and SHBG levels significantly increased in accordance with TG/HDL ratio quartile. The ORs (95% CIs) of the lowest TG/HDL ratio quartile compared to the highest TG/HDL ratio quartile for low levels of testosterone and SHBG were 1.96 (1.13-2.75) and 3.90 (2.38-6.38), respectively, after adjusting for age, body mass index, smoking status, alcohol drinking, regular exercise, diastolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, and total cholesterol level. Conclusions: The TG/HDL ratio was inversely associated with testosterone and SHBG levels in middle-aged and elderly Korean men.