Circulating sex hormone binding globulin levels are modified with intensive lifestyle intervention, but their changes did not independently predict diabetes risk in the Diabetes Prevention Program

The study analyzed data from the Diabetes Prevention Program to assess whether intensive lifestyle intervention (ILS) or metformin affected circulating sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels and if these changes influenced diabetes risk. Conducted across 27 centers in the USA, the study included overweight/obese individuals with elevated fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance. Results showed that ILS led to significant increases or smaller decreases in SHBG levels compared to placebo or metformin, primarily due to changes in adiposity. However, changes in SHBG did not independently predict diabetes risk reduction, indicating that while lifestyle intervention may favorably alter SHBG levels, these changes alone did not correlate with decreased diabetes incidence.