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.