De novo lipogenesis has been inversely associated with serum sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels. However, the directionality of this association has remained uncertain. We, therefore, studied individuals with glycogen storage disease type 1a (GSD1a), who are characterized by a genetic defect in glucose-6-phosphatase resulting in increased rates of de novo lipogenesis, to assess the downstream effect on serum SHBG levels.
A case–control study comparing serum SHBG levels in patients with GSD1a ( n = 10) and controls matched for age, sex, and BMI ( n = 10). Intrahepatic lipid content and saturated fatty acid fraction were quantified by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
Serum SHBG levels were statistically significantly lower in patients with GSD1a compared to the controls ( p = 0.041), while intrahepatic lipid content and intrahepatic saturated fatty acid fraction—a marker of de novo lipogenesis—were significantly higher in patients with GSD1a ( p = 0.001 and p = 0.019, respectively). In addition, there was a statistically significant, inverse association of intrahepatic lipid content and saturated fatty acid fraction with serum SHBG levels in patients and controls combined ( β: − 0.28, 95% CI: − 0.47;− 0.09 and β: − 0.02, 95% CI: − 0.04;− 0.01, respectively).