Research
Hormonal
Low levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) are associated with reduced insulin sensitivity in women with PCOS, independent of BMI, suggesting SHBG may serve as a useful clinical marker for insulin resistance in this population.
Low SHBG levels are a sign of insulin resistance in PCOS. While not a treatment target itself, monitoring SHBG can help assess metabolic health. Improving insulin sensitivity through lifestyle or medication often raises SHBG levels.
GoodSupportsMEDIUM confidence
Low levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were associated with reduced levels of IS (−10%, ±10%; small, very likely negative), which was not confounded by BMI.
Why this rating
Based on meta-analysis, but the effect size is described as 'small'.
Source
Insulin resistance in polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of euglycaemic–hyperinsulinaemic clamp studies
Samantha Cassar et al. · Human Reproduction · 2016
DOI 10.1093/humrep/dew243
Meta-analysis · 28 studiesCited 389×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) exhibit an intrinsic reduction in insulin sensitivity of approximately 27% compared to controls, a deficit that persists independently of body mass index (BMI), age, or diagnostic criteria.Strong
- Higher body mass index (BMI) exacerbates insulin resistance in women with PCOS more severely than in healthy controls, with a 10-unit increase in BMI associated with a 28% greater reduction in insulin sensitivity in PCOS compared to a 15% reduction in controls.Strong
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